Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare has already discovered a familiar face at Ajax, where his image now appears among the photographs displayed inside the club’s training complex. One of those pictured was Nwankwo Kanu, the Nigerian icon he heard about while growing up.
“I was walking through the training ground and noticed some of his pictures, and I just thought, ‘Papilo,’” said Arokodare, referring to Kanu’s widely used nickname. “That is what we call him, so it was great to see such a familiar face. Hopefully, my pictures will be up there one day as well.”
That understated remark comes from a striker who has joined Ajax on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with a purchase option included in the agreement that runs through the summer of 2027. Humility remains central to Arokodare’s character as he enters one of European football’s most historic dressing rooms and takes the No. 99 shirt, a number linked with several of the strongest periods of his career.
Born in Festac, Nigeria, on 23 November 2000, Arokodare’s route to Amsterdam has taken him through several countries. He moved to Europe as a teenager to sign for Latvia’s Valmiera FC, then continued his development in Germany with 1. FC Köln, in France at Amiens SC and in Belgium with KRC Genk. He led the Jupiler Pro League scoring charts in 2024-25 and collected the Belgian Golden Shoe, earning a transfer to Wolves last summer. He played 38 matches for the English club, although most of those appearances came from the bench, as Wolves were relegated from the Premier League.
Even so, Arokodare acknowledged that none of his previous clubs possessed quite the stature of Ajax.
“It is an incredible feeling,” he said of his arrival. “I have known Ajax since I was young, but I never pictured myself playing for them. It is not that I did not want it; Ajax is simply such a huge club. Not many people in Nigeria follow the Dutch league, but everybody knows Ajax.”
The transfer also tested his patience. Arokodare said he had been aware of Ajax’s interest for some time and repeatedly urged his representative to complete the move.
“I was very impatient because I had known about Ajax’s interest for a while,” he said. “I kept asking my agent to make it happen, and now it has finally been completed. I am delighted and cannot wait to begin.”
When he first learned that one of Europe’s major clubs wanted him, Arokodare initially suspected a joke before quickly embracing the opportunity.
“At first, I thought he was joking because I had never considered it and never imagined it,” he said. “But once he told me, I thought, ‘I like this and I am interested.’ Ajax are the biggest club in the Netherlands and one of the biggest in Europe. I am eager to join, contribute to the team, allow the team to help me and achieve our ambitions together.”
Arokodare is the eighth Nigerian to play for Ajax. The club’s connection with Nigeria began in 1993, when Finidi George and Kanu arrived in Amsterdam, and has continued more recently through Calvin Bassey. Kanu, however, remains the most prominent figure in that Nigerian history, and Arokodare understands the significance of following him.
Arokodare said he has encountered the Super Eagles great on two occasions, although he is not convinced Kanu would remember their first meeting.
“I met him years ago when I was still in high school, and then again when the national team played in Nigeria,” he said. “He is a huge legend in Nigeria, across Africa and throughout football. We all know what he achieved with the national side and, of course, with Ajax.”
Despite his admiration for Kanu, Arokodare is not presenting his arrival as a challenge to the former striker’s legacy. Instead, he wants to build a place for himself among Ajax’s distinguished Nigerian players and make his loan spell more than a brief stop in Amsterdam.
“Many great players have represented this club, including a lot of outstanding strikers,” he said. “I am eager to get started, work with the squad and the other players, and help Ajax return to the top of the standings.”
Ajax sporting director Jordi Cruyff focused on the immediate footballing value of the signing, saying Arokodare offers a type of forward the squad previously lacked.
“Tolu gives us a striker with characteristics that were not previously present in our squad,” Cruyff said. “He is powerful and has already shown that he can score goals. We believe he will play an important role for the team next season.”
The No. 99 shirt carries its own meaning for Arokodare. He has worn it since signing his first professional contract, inspired by a childhood memory of Brazilian star Ronaldinho.
“It was my original shirt number,” he said. “When I was young, I saw Ronaldinho wearing 99 for AC Milan and thought it looked really cool. When I signed my first professional deal in Latvia, No. 9 was unavailable, so I chose 99 instead. It is basically two nines, and I liked that.”
The number has developed into a personal good-luck symbol. Arokodare wore it while winning the Golden Shoe at Genk and hopes it will bring similar success in the Netherlands.
“I have generally enjoyed good seasons whenever I have worn it, so I hope that continues here,” he said.
His trademark celebration, known as “T-Time”, also has a personal origin. It is based on the initials in his name.
“Toluwalase gives me the T, Emmanuel gives me the E and Arokodare gives me the A, making T-E-A,” he explained. “I used to make the T sign with my initials, so it became T-Time. My brother came up with the idea. I began doing it in France, and hopefully Ajax supporters will see plenty of T-Time celebrations this season.”
Standing close to 2 metres tall, Arokodare possesses a physical presence that is reflected in his scoring record. Since leaving Latvia, he has scored 53 league goals, including 11 headers, with the remaining strikes coming from his right and left feet. During his time at Genk, he attempted 281 shots, more than 90 per cent of them from inside the box. Those figures help illustrate the power and penalty-area threat Cruyff highlighted.
Away from football, Arokodare offers a straightforward description of himself.
“I am Toluwalase Arokodare Emmanuel, and I am now an Ajax player. I am a striker, the youngest of four children, and 197cm tall. I am Nigerian, Yoruba and also half Igbo. But people can simply call me T.”
He was equally clear when outlining his approach on the pitch.
“I enjoy combining with my teammates and helping the team in any way possible. I just want to play. I am a striker who wants to play, score and continue scoring.” When asked whether goals are his main motivation, he replied: “That is my job. It is why I am paid and why I am here, so hopefully I can deliver.”
Arokodare arrives with Ajax already in competitive action. The Dutch club began its Conference League campaign in the second qualifying round against Vojvodina and hold a 4-1 advantage from the first leg in Serbia before the return match in Amsterdam.
For Arokodare, who says he has missed the daily demands of football, the timing of the move is ideal.
“I cannot wait to train with the players. I met some of them today and I am excited to start alongside them,” he said. “I am also looking forward to playing in front of the supporters at that wonderful stadium. I have not visited it yet, although I hope to do so soon; until now, I have only seen it on television. I want us to start winning, compete fiercely in every match and fight to win the league. I cannot wait for everything to begin.”
