Ajax Race Clock for Arokodare's Work Permit
Ajax have the striker they wanted. Now they just need the paperwork to keep up.
On Wednesday afternoon the club formally applied for Tolu Arokodare’s work permit, De Telegraaf reported, but journalist Mike Verweij warned it will be “a race against the clock”. The timing could hardly be tighter.
Ajax have one eye on Europe, the other on the Eredivisie, and the 1.97-metre Nigerian sits right in the middle of both plans.
European deadline looming
After the emphatic 1-4 away win over FK Vojvodina, Ajax are all but through to the next round of the Conference League qualifiers. The job can be finished on Thursday at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, where they are expected to complete the formality and book their place in the next phase.
That’s when the stopwatch really starts.
Once this tie is wrapped up, Ajax must submit a fresh squad list to UEFA for the next qualifier against Shelbourne or Nomme Kalju. The deadline: Wednesday evening, 5 August. The aim: make sure Arokodare’s name is on that sheet.
Inside the club, nobody will be watching the calendar more closely than Jordi Cruyff. The technical director knows the margin for error is tiny. If the work permit lands in time, Ajax intend to register the striker immediately so he can be available for the next European round. If not, a key new signing will be watching from the stands.
Míchel wants him for Zwolle opener
Europe is only half the story.
Coach Míchel also wants Arokodare ready for domestic duty as Ajax open their Eredivisie campaign away to PEC Zwolle on Sunday 9 August. To make that possible, Ajax must register the forward with the KNVB by 12:00 on Friday 7 August at the latest. Miss that window and the new No 9-in-waiting will have to delay his league debut.
Ajax hope to avoid any drama. The plan is clear: get the formalities done early, give Míchel the green light, and let Arokodare step straight into the squad. Up front, he will be thrown into direct competition with Marcos Leonardo, the Brazilian signed from Al-Hilal for just under twenty million euros.
A towering target man against a sharp, penalty-box striker. It’s the kind of battle top clubs want in their forward line.
Loan from Wolves, big option on the table
Wednesday also brought official confirmation of Arokodare’s arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ajax have secured the 23-year-old on a one-season loan, paying a modest fee to the Premier League side and inserting a purchase option worth twenty million euros.
For Ajax, it is a relatively low-risk move with a potentially high ceiling. For Arokodare, it is a chance to impose himself at one of Europe’s great talent factories, in a system that traditionally feeds its centre-forwards with chances.
All of that, though, hangs on a signature in the right office at the right time.
The deal is done. The striker is in. Now Ajax must win the race off the pitch before he can start making a difference on it.
