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Ajax head coach Míchel Sánchez has praised Tolu Arokodare after the Nigerian striker made an immediate impact on his Eredivisie debut against PEC Zwolle.
Arokodare came off the bench in the second half as Ajax secured a 2-0 away victory over Zwolle in their opening league fixture of the 2026/27 season.
The 25-year-old forward was introduced in the 73rd minute with the game still goalless and quickly made his presence felt.
Just three minutes after coming on, Arokodare played a key role in the move that led to Jorthy Mokio breaking the deadlock.
Julian Brandt later added Ajax’s second goal, with the substitutes playing a decisive role in Míchel Sánchez’s first Eredivisie victory as head coach.
Speaking after the match, Sánchez singled out Arokodare for praise, highlighting the Nigerian’s contribution and his need to regain his rhythm after his difficult spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“Especially Tolu. He did exceptional work and I am very happy for him because he needs to regain his rhythm. His first minutes were very good. He made a good move leading to the goal. Mokio came on and scored. The same goes for Brandt,” he said as quoted by Ajax Showtime.
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Míchel Sánchez praised the impact of his substitutes, highlighting their contribution after coming off the bench. “I am very satisfied with the performance of the substitutes,” he added.
Arokodare joined Ajax from Wolves on a season-long loan in July, with the move giving him an opportunity to relaunch his career in the Netherlands.
The Nigerian arrived in Amsterdam after spending the 2025/26 campaign with Wolves, having previously enjoyed a prolific spell with Belgian side Genk.
His move to Ajax came after a difficult first season in England, during which he struggled to establish himself consistently.
Arokodare had already made a positive impression during pre-season, scoring after coming off the bench against FC Volendam.
His assist against Zwolle now gives him another encouraging start as he looks to establish himself in Míchel Sánchez’s Ajax squad.
