The Dutch champions began their 2026-27 Eredivisie campaign with a measured 2-0 victory away to PEC Zwolle on Sunday, a match in which new forward Tolu Arokodare made an immediate impression after being introduced from the bench.
Bench impact and late insurance
Arokodare, who arrived at Ajax on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, was a second-half substitute. He replaced Abdellah Ouazane and, within minutes, engineered the move that put Ajax in front. The assist came just three minutes after his introduction, setting up youngster Jorthy Mokio to finish.
| Event | Minute |
|---|---|
| Arokodare introduced | 73rd minute |
| Assist for opener (Mokio) | 76th minute (three minutes later) |
| Second goal (Brandt) | Deep stoppage time |
Julian Brandt secured the final margin in stoppage time with an insurance goal created by Mika Godts. For Ajax, the result is a straightforward start to the new domestic season: control of the match and three points to take back to the Johan Cruyff ArenA.
What Arokodare’s arrival means
The 25-year-old Nigerian forward joined Ajax after moving to Wolves from Genk in a £24-million transfer in September 2025. His track record in Belgium—31 league goals in 79 appearances for Genk—was a key factor that helped secure the move to Molineux and, subsequently, this loan spell in Amsterdam.
He began life at Ajax encouragingly last week, scoring on his first appearance during a 3-1 pre-season win over FC Volendam. That strike, coupled with Sunday’s assist, gives the club tangible evidence of his ability to influence matches late from the bench while he continues to press for a starting role.
- Immediate impact: Assist three minutes after coming on.
- Competition for places: Arokodare remains behind established starters but is pushing for starts.
- European fixtures: Ajax travel to Ireland for the second leg of their Europa Conference League qualifying tie against Shelbourne this Thursday, where the striker may again feature.
Off-field context and dispute with Wolves
Arokodare’s move to Ajax comes amid a public disagreement with his parent club. Wolves alleged he disrupted training during his proposed departure from Molineux; the player rejected that characterisation in a statement posted to social media.
“Throughout my career, I have always taken great pride in conducting myself professionally and maintaining the highest training standards.”
The statement underscores a tense period surrounding his exit from Wolves. Ajax’s loan offers the player competitive minutes in a league renowned for developing attacking talent, while Wolves retain the contractual and sporting expectation that he remains their player beyond this season.
Immediate calendar and what to watch
Ajax now have a domestic fixture against Heerenveen next Sunday where Arokodare could make his home Eredivisie debut, and a European qualifier in Ireland this Thursday. The early returns suggest the coaching staff will have to balance giving the forward minutes to maintain momentum with integrating him into a squad already performing at a high level.
For supporters in Ajax and beyond, the narrative is familiar: a club that trades on youth and adaptable attacking options adding a physically imposing forward with a proven scoring record at a younger age. How the club manages his transition from substitute to possible starter will be one of the more closely watched storylines in the opening weeks of the season.
