Super Eagles news: Ex-Dortmund coach calls Arokodare an anomaly – “Not in Dutch football”

Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare has been singled out by former Borussia Dortmund and Ajax coach Peter Bosz, who noticed the striker's unusual physical profile after he made an impressive start to life in Amsterdam, Soccernet.ng reports.

Arokodare joined Ajax from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer on a season-long loan deal that includes an option to buy after struggling for regular playing time in the Premier League last season.

The Super Eagles striker had previously made his name in Belgium with Genk, where he finished the 2024/25 campaign as the league’s top scorer before earning a move to Wolves.

However, it is in the Netherlands that the 25-year-old has quickly begun to make waves again. The lanky striker has scored six goals in nine appearances for Ajax across all competitions this season, including three goals in the Eredivisie.

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His performances have now earned praise from Bosz, who knows the Dutch league extremely well and currently manages Ajax’s rivals PSV Eindhoven.

Bosz highlights Arokodare’s unusual profile

Speaking to De Telegraaf, Bosz was asked about Ajax’s significant investment in experienced players during the summer transfer window.

The former Ajax boss believes the Amsterdam club have strengthened considerably, but he singled out Arokodare and Julian Brandt as two particularly interesting additions.

“Ajax have strengthened enormously. They have opted for experience. A number of those players are doing very well,” Bosz said.

When discussing Arokodare, however, the PSV coach focused on something he believes is unusual in Dutch football.

“They have brought in a big striker, something we don't really know in the Netherlands,” the 62-year-old said.

“That is a quality injection for Ajax.”

The comment underlines what Arokodare can offer that is different from the traditional profile of a Dutch centre-forward.

Standing at 1.97 metres, the Nigerian gives Ajax a huge physical presence in attack, allowing the team to play directly when necessary and giving defenders a different problem to deal with.

Super Eagles striker making a difference

Bosz’s assessment is significant because Arokodare has not needed a long adjustment period to demonstrate his value.

The Nigerian scored his first Eredivisie goal against Telstar on August 30 before finding the net against PSV and then scoring again against Excelsior in September.

He has also contributed in Europe, taking his overall tally to six goals in nine appearances for Ajax, providing two assists.

That represents a significant response from a striker who endured a difficult first season in England. Arokodare was largely used from the bench by Wolves during their relegation campaign but still managed six goals across league and cup competitions.

His move to Ajax has given him a more prominent role, and his early performances suggest the Dutch club may have found a forward capable of offering something different to their attack.

With an option to make his transfer permanent, Arokodare now has the opportunity to turn his strong start into a much longer stay in Amsterdam.

For the Super Eagles, his revival is equally encouraging. Nigeria already have Victor Osimhen as their established striker, while Arokodare’s combination of size, mobility and goals gives Eric Chelle another type of striker to consider.

Bosz may have been discussing Ajax, but his assessment also explains why Arokodare could become a key player for Nigeria.