Tolu Arokodare Announces Himself with Debut Goal as Ajax Edge FC Volendam in Pre-Season Thriller

Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare enjoyed a dream start to life at Ajax after finding the back of the net on his debut in the Dutch giants' entertaining 3-2 pre-season victory over FC Volendam on Sunday.

Arokodare, who recently completed a loan move from Sky Bet Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, began the match on the bench before replacing Marcos Leonardo with 19 minutes remaining.

The 25-year-old wasted little time making his presence felt. Deep into the closing stages, Anton Gaaei's dangerous cross created panic inside the FC Volendam penalty area, allowing Arokodare to react quickest and score Ajax's third goal just two minutes from full-time.

His strike capped an encouraging first outing in Ajax colours and gave supporters an early glimpse of the qualities he could bring to the squad ahead of the new season.

Ajax secured the striker on a season-long loan, with an option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the campaign if he impresses.

Having already made an immediate impact, Arokodare will now be eager to convince manager John Heitinga that he deserves a regular place in the starting lineup as Ajax prepare for the 2026/27 campaign.

Opinion

There is no better way for a striker to introduce himself than with a goal, and Tolu Arokodare has done exactly that. While pre-season matches are primarily about building fitness and experimenting with tactics, scoring on debut instantly boosts a player's confidence and helps him earn the trust of teammates and coaches.

For Arokodare, this move represents an important opportunity to revive and elevate his career at one of Europe's most historic clubs. If he continues to take his chances with the same composure he showed against FC Volendam, Ajax may have little hesitation in activating the option to sign him permanently when the season ends.