Ajax in Race Against Time to Register Arokodare
Ajax have the striker they wanted. Now they just need the clock to slow down.
On Wednesday afternoon, the club filed the paperwork for Tolu Arokodare’s work permit, according to De Telegraaf. Journalist Mike Verweij called it “a race against the clock,” and he is not exaggerating. Every deadline around the Nigerian forward seems to be arriving at once.
Ajax all but finished the job in their first Conference League qualifier, dismantling FK Vojvodina 4-1 away from home. One and a half feet are already in the next round; Thursday at the Johan Cruijff ArenA should complete the step. The real tension, though, lies just beyond that tie.
Once Vojvodina are dealt with, Ajax must hand UEFA a fresh squad list for the next qualifier, against Shelbourne or Nomme Kalju. The cut-off is Wednesday evening, 5 August. Miss it, and Arokodare watches the next European hurdle from the stands. Hit it, and Míchel suddenly has a new 1.97‑metre weapon to throw at continental defences.
Inside the club, all eyes now turn to the permit office. Jordi Cruyff will spend the coming days watching inboxes and signatures as closely as he watches training. If the green light comes in time, Ajax intend to register Arokodare with UEFA immediately, wasting not a second.
Europe is only half the story
Nine August looms as another key date: the Eredivisie opener away to PEC Zwolle. Míchel wants his new striker available from day one. To make that possible, Ajax must complete Arokodare’s registration with the KNVB by 12:00 on Friday, 7 August. That deadline is even tighter, the margin for error even slimmer. The plan is clear: get everything done early, avoid a frantic Friday, and put the new man straight into the manager’s hands.
Once cleared, Arokodare walks into a direct fight for minutes. Up front, he will mainly be battling Marcos Leonardo, the Brazilian signed from Al-Hilal for just under twenty million euros. Different profiles, different paths, same target: the starting shirt at centre-forward in Amsterdam.
The transfer itself is straightforward. Also on Wednesday, Ajax confirmed Arokodare’s arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers. It is a one-season loan, with a modest fee paid to the Premier League club and an option to buy set at twenty million euros. Low risk now, potentially high reward later if the Nigerian settles and delivers.
For Ajax, the deal is done. For Míchel, the tactics board is already turning. All that stands between Tolu Arokodare and his first minutes in red and white is bureaucracy — and a ticking clock that will not stop for anyone.
