Tolu Arokodare has confirmed he would welcome a permanent move to Ajax after scoring in their 2-0 Conference League victory over Atalanta on Thursday.
The Nigerian striker also entertained reporters after the match with a lighthearted exchange that left the press room laughing. His response to praise from Dutch journalist Willem Vissers quickly became one of the evening’s talking points.
Vissers, who introduced himself in English as William, praised Arokodare for his humility and the way he speaks about his teammates.
“I just want to say that you’re an incredibly nice guy,” the journalist began. “You don’t have a big ego at all and you compliment other players. That’s just wonderful.”
Tolu Arokodare thanked the journalist before turning to the rest of the room with a playful request.
“Thank you very much. God bless you,” the forward replied. He then added: “Can everybody please be like William?”
The comment sparked laughter among the journalists, while another reporter joked that Vissers had set a very high standard for everyone else.
Arokodare Welcomes Chance to Stay at Ajax
Away from the humour, questions soon turned to Arokodare’s future in Amsterdam. Ajax signed the striker on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers until the summer of 2027, with a reported option to buy worth between €18 million and €20 million.
When Mike Verweij of De Telegraaf asked about a possible permanent transfer, Arokodare initially avoided making any promises.
“That’s something between Ajax and Wolves; I can’t say anything about it.”
However, the striker made his personal preference clear when Verweij asked whether he would consider staying beyond his loan spell.
“Of course I’m open to that. I love it here. I love being here. The people are great, the supporters are great, the team are great, the club are great and you’re all great. But William is even nicer,” he joked.
Arokodare’s goal against Atalanta helped Ajax secure their first European win of the season. Nevertheless, the forward insisted that every member of the squad plays an important role, regardless of their place in the starting line up.
“If you’re an Ajax player, you’re important anyway, whether you start or not. Even if you don’t play, you’re important because you help your team-mates improve in training,” he explained. “I’m just happy I could help my team with the first goal and contribute to the victory.”
The Nigerian started the match on the bench, with Marcos Leonardo again leading the attack. However, Tolu Arokodare showed no frustration at the decision and praised his teammate’s performance.
“I’m a patient person. Of course everyone wants to play and start, but Leo played very well in the previous match and the coach thought he deserved to start,” Tolu Arokodare said. “He played well today too; he was just unlucky not to score. He tired out the defenders, which meant I could benefit afterwards.”
Arokodare also dismissed suggestions that he and Leonardo were competing against each other for the same position. Instead, he stressed the importance of teamwork and supporting one another.
“We’re not competing with each other, because when you play in the same team, you can’t compete with each other. If you fight against each other, you don’t help each other and the team can’t develop,” the Nigerian said.
His decisive contribution against Atalanta, combined with his positive comments about life in Amsterdam, will please Ajax supporters. Although the final decision rests with Ajax and Wolves, Arokodare has made it clear that he would be happy to stay.
