Tolu Arokodare Finds His Confidence—and a Sense of Belonging—at Ajax
Tolu Arokodare says life at Ajax has helped him feel at home again, both on and off the pitch. The 25-year-old striker has quickly become a popular figure in Amsterdam, where his goals have made an immediate impact and his warmth has won over supporters. In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, he spoke candidly about his character, the pressure facing fellow forward Marcos Leonardo and the difficult spell that affected his confidence at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Arokodare’s start in Amsterdam has been productive: he has scored nine goals in 14 official appearances. Those numbers have made him an important part of Ajax’s attack and a player fans are watching closely. But he believes his connection with supporters is about more than football. He describes himself as someone who wants to see the people around him succeed.
More than goals: why Ajax supporters have embraced Arokodare
“Maybe some people think it’s an act, but it definitely isn’t,” Arokodare said of his friendly nature. “Ask anyone who knows me what my defining quality is and they’ll say: ‘He has a big heart.’ I want to be the man who wants the best for everyone.”
His honesty offers a glimpse of the personality behind the performances. A striker’s reputation can rise quickly when goals arrive, and Arokodare recognises that supporters may have been less welcoming if he had not found the net so regularly. He acknowledged that possibility with humour, while making clear that he values the affection he has received.
That blend of output and approachability can be especially valuable at a club where expectations are high. Ajax supporters expect attacking football, but they also want commitment and personality from the players representing the team. Arokodare’s early scoring record has given him a strong platform; his open manner appears to have helped him build a connection beyond matchday results.
Arokodare backs Marcos Leonardo amid striker pressure
Arokodare also showed support for Marcos Leonardo, his teammate and a competitor for the central striker position. Rather than treating the Brazilian as a threat, he expressed concern about the criticism Leonardo has faced and said he remains confident the forward will score.
“I feel really bad for him. When you see what’s being said and written about him… I hope he doesn’t take much of it in,” Arokodare said. He added that Leonardo’s limited English and Dutch might help him avoid some of the commentary surrounding him.
Competition for places is a normal part of life at a major club, particularly when several forwards are seeking minutes. Yet Arokodare’s comments suggest he sees the situation as a shared challenge rather than a personal contest. He believes Leonardo has the ability to deliver and understands how difficult it can be for a striker to block out outside noise.
“He’ll score his goals, no doubt,” Arokodare said. “Sometimes it’s hard to shut out all that noise, especially as a striker. I struggled with that last season too.”
His perspective is grounded in experience. For forwards, confidence can be closely tied to goals, while a run without scoring can bring heightened scrutiny from fans and media. That pressure does not disappear simply because a player is talented. Arokodare’s encouragement may therefore matter within the squad, where trust between teammates can help players remain focused during difficult spells.
Wolves spell took a toll on his confidence
Before joining Ajax, Arokodare experienced a challenging period at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He said he arrived at Wolves feeling confident, but gradually lost that belief as the team struggled to perform and results failed to improve.
“I arrived at Wolves full of confidence. Somewhere along the way, I lost it,” he recalled. “The team weren’t functioning at all and the results were disappointing. No one can stand out in those circumstances. You want to stay positive, but it eats away at you.”
His account highlights how a team’s broader difficulties can affect an individual player’s form. A striker may be judged by goals, but chances depend on the work of the whole side: creating space, moving the ball forward and supplying quality service. When a team is short of rhythm, even a confident forward can find it hard to influence games consistently.
Arokodare said he continued to smile during that period, although his family could see that he was struggling beneath the surface. “I was still smiling, but my family noticed there was something behind that smile. I had lost myself,” he said.
Support network helps Arokodare feel like himself again
At Ajax, Arokodare says he is beginning to rediscover the confidence and enjoyment that had faded. He credited his family, mental coaches, agents, teammates and coaching staff for helping him through the transition and supporting his wellbeing.
“Thanks to their help, and the help of my mental coaches, my agents, my Ajax teammates and coaches, I can feel myself becoming more and more like myself again,” he said.
That emphasis on support adds an important dimension to his story. A change of club can offer a fresh start, but rebuilding confidence is rarely just a matter of moving to a new dressing room. It can involve honest conversations, patience and a reliable support network. For Arokodare, the encouraging response at Ajax appears to have coincided with a return to goals and a stronger sense of belonging.
His progress will be judged over a longer stretch of the season, and the demands of Ajax’s schedule will continue to test the squad. The next challenge includes a meeting with AZ in the Eredivisie, a fixture that could provide another measure of how the team’s attack is developing. Any football prediction for the match will depend on form, selection and the balance between the two sides, but Arokodare’s early scoring record makes him one of the Ajax players likely to attract attention.
For now, his message is about more than statistics. Arokodare is contributing goals, backing a teammate under pressure and speaking openly about the mental strain that can accompany a difficult season. If he continues to perform while maintaining the confidence he is rebuilding, he could become an increasingly important part of Ajax’s plans—and an even more familiar favourite among the club’s supporters.
