Tag: Tolu Arokodare

Super Eagles forward Tolu Arokodare  will henceforth  be under the tutelage of a new coach in England after  Wolverhampton Wanderers announced  the signing of  Rob Edwards on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Edwards, who previously guided Luton Town to the Premier League in his first season, had taken charge of Middlesbrough on a three-year contract in June but appeared to have had his head turned following interest from his former club Wolves.

Wolves were seeking a new manager after the Premier League’s bottom side sacked Vitor Pereira following a winless start to the season after 10 games and they turned to Edwards, who was also a former youth team coach at the club.

“We need to refresh the whole club with a new coach’s philosophy, bringing his own identity and ideas, and we can build on that. We are at a new chapter for the club and Rob will be a key piece of that,” club Chairman Jeff Shi said. “I know Rob very well and I have seen his growth in different jobs. He’s a very good person, he knows the club very well, he knows the city, the fans and he is very talented.

“When he was a youth coach here, he showed his tactical awareness, but after he took first-team jobs he started to grow his own identity, character and leadership.”

Middlesbrough were reluctant to let Edwards leave but after initially rejecting an approach from Wolves, they were forced to agree terms with the Premier League side when the 42-year-old made clear his desire to take the job.

The timing proved particularly painful for Middlesbrough, who were sitting third in the Championship standings when Edwards was stood down ahead of last weekend’s game.

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Edwards managed only 15 games for the club before his departure, winning seven and drawing five.

Middlesbrough gave Edwards permission to speak to Wolves on Saturday and four days later, he put pen to paper to confirm his return to the Premier League and Molineux Stadium, where he spent four seasons as a player and made 111 appearances.

Wolves director Matt Jackson said Edwards and his staff have proven before how they can successfully “shift the culture” and inspire confidence in players.

“The energy that he brings off the field, we have to get it on to the pitch. We have to be realistic about where we are, and we definitely need to be held accountable,” Jackson said.

“We now need to get that belief into the players quickly and think Rob will be great culturally for the whole football club.”

Edwards now has the task of turning around the club’s fortunes and maintaining their top-flight status.

Interim head coach Jamie Collins oversaw a 3-0 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday, leaving Wolves as the only team across England’s top four tiers yet to win a league match this season.

Edwards’s first match in charge is a home game against Crystal Palace after the international break, on November 22.

Following his first goal for Wolves in their 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare says he’s looking forward to scoring more goals for the club.

Arokodare told Sky Sports: “Whenever I score, it is TEA time. It is my time. I started it when I was playing in Amiens, in France. It motivates me. I just have to keep scoring, keep putting the celebration out there.”

The celebration, which references his initials—Tolu Emmanuel Arokodare—has become popular on social media and with fans in Nigeria.

Arokodare, signed from Genk in the final hours of the transfer window, has navigated a challenging yet rewarding career path.

His early trials in Germany and France were hindered by visa issues, but a move to Latvia’s Valmiera proved pivotal.

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He later progressed through Amiens and Genk, where he netted 24 goals last season to finish as joint-top scorer in Belgium’s top division.

Adjusting to the Premier League’s intensity has been another hurdle. Arokodare admitted the physical nature of the competition initially surprised him, likening early matches to WWE.

Despite this, he remains confident about Wolves’ potential this season.

He would be available for the Premiership clash away at Tottenham Hotspur.

Arokodare is expected to be named in the Super Eagles squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho by Coach Eric Chelle in the coming days.

 Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare  grabbed his first  goal  for Wolves as the English Premier League side  beat  Everton 2-0  to romp into the  fourth  round of the EFL Cup.

Marshall Munetsi  put Wolves in the lead in  the 29^th minute  while Arokodare made victory  certain with the second game of the night  in the 87^th minute.

Victory brings some relief for Wolves, who beat West Ham in the last round, after the worst league start in their history that has left them bottom of the Premier League.

They have lost their opening five top-flight games – including a 3-2 home defeat to the Toffees last month – but remain confident manager Vitor Pereira’s experience will prove crucial in arresting their slide.

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Midfielder Munetsi struck midway through the first half after Mark Travers parried Jhon Arias’ smart volley.

Wolves’ goalkeeper Sam Johnstone had already turned Michael Keane’s header over while James Garner’s second-half free-kick hit the bar as Everton looked for a leveller.

Jack Grealish came off the bench for the visitors and almost conjured an equaliser for Jake O’Brien but striker Arokodare – a £23m summer signing from Genk – chipped in a neat second with three minutes left for his first Wolves goal.

Tolu Arokodare came off the bench to score within five minutes and keep Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying push alive with a narrow win over Rwanda on Saturday.

The victory moves the Super Eagles to 10 points from six matches—one game fewer than South Africa (16) and Benin (11)—and tightens a congested battle behind the leaders in Group C. Rwanda slip to eight points.

After an attritional first half in which Nigeria dominated territory but struggled to pries open a compact back line, head coach Eric Chelle made a decisive change at the interval, introducing Arokodare for Frank Onyeka.

The switch added penalty-area presence, and the striker provided the breakthrough on 51 minutes, reacting quickest to a loose ball in the box and steering home from close range.

Rwanda had defended stoutly before the interval—bookings for Ishimwe Nshuti, Fidel Ntwari and Fitina Omborenga reflecting the intensity of their rearguard effort—while Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was cautioned on 25 minutes.

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Chances were otherwise scarce, with Nigeria’s clearest openings falling to Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman, who were kept largely at arm’s length.

Chasing the game, Rwanda turned to the bench, replacing Omborenga with Jojea Kwizera just before the hour and later introducing Aimable Biramahire.

Nigeria responded by freshening their attack and then shoring up the closing stages: Fisayo Dele-Bashiru replaced Lookman, before Bright Osayi-Samuel and William Troost-Ekong came on in the 87th minute to help see out the result.

The Super Eagles managed the final minutes efficiently, limiting Rwanda to long-range efforts and set-plays as they banked a first clean sheet since the June window.

With two fixtures left in the campaign and a game in hand on both South Africa and Benin, Nigeria remain firmly in contention—this hard-earned win ensuring the group’s automatic place and runners-up race will go to the final international window.

Nigerian striker completes  £24m deal from Genk to Wolves

By Victor Oguntade

Nigeria International  striker Tolu Arokodare  has described his £24 million deal transfer  from Genk to Wolverhampton Wanderers as ‘the right place to progress his career’.

The 6ft 6in lanky striker  signed a four-year deal at Molineux from the Blue and white  where he won the Golden Boot in the Belgian Pro League last season with 21 goals.

In his first official interview as Wolves’ player,  the 24-year-old Arokodare  expressed his excitement of joining  the English Premier League train.

“It feels amazing. It did take a while, but I’m here finally, and I’m happy to be here,”  the former youth international  told the club’s website, expressing his confidence  in fitting into the squad.“ I didn’t need convincing. I know the history of the club and the players that have been here and how they’ve progressed to become better players.

“ I like the project of the club, and that’s what I want for myself. I want to improve and I want to progress, and help this team.”

He added : “I think I’ll fit in pretty good. If you, for example, look at the strikers that we have now, we’re almost the same profile, so it won’t be difficult for me to adapt. You could see how good [Jorgen Strand] Larsen did last season, and I’m just here to help the team.”

Pressed  about his suitability  for a club in the Premier League, Arokodare  said:  “The Premier League is a league full of physicality, high intensity, a lot of runs, and I think I’m that kind of player. I think I’m strong, I’m fast.” He’s eager to start, despite not being fully match-fit, and can’t wait to meet his new teammates and coach.

 “I can’t wait to meet the guys, to meet the coach, and to start training with the team. I tried on the jerseys yesterday, the three different ones, they felt nice, they felt amazing, they felt right. I can’t wait for the first game, the first home game, if I’m starting, if I’m coming off the bench, if I’m on the bench, not playing, I can’t wait just to be in front of the fans” he added.

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Reflecting on his good performance in Belgium with Genk, the former FC Koln  loanee   said: “I would say there is still that confidence from last season. I haven’t played as many minutes this season for obvious reasons, but hopefully I can get back to playing more minutes and I can get back to my goal scoring form.

 “It [the golden boot] was very nice. It wasn’t easy, because there was very good competition. To be honest, and to give credit to the other guy, I was joint top scorer, but it was an amazing feeling. It felt like a well done, it was just a little bit sad that we didn’t win the title, but it was also something to take home with me.”

Though Wolves are currently bottom of the Premier League having lost their opening three games, Arokodare said  he’s looking forward  to his debut once the International break  is over.

He explained: “I wouldn’t say I’m completely match fit, because I haven’t played more than 30 minutes in a single game, but I’m going to the national team now, and hopefully I get to play games, and if it doesn’t happen, I’ll just try to stay fit and come back and be in top form for the team.

“I can’t wait to meet the guys, to meet the coach, and to start training with the team. I tried on the jerseys yesterday, the three different ones, they felt nice, they felt amazing, they felt right. I can’t wait for the first game, the first home game, if I’m starting, if I’m coming off the bench, if I’m on the bench, not playing, I can’t wait just to be in front of the fans.”

By Joshua Osinowo

‎Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare has expressed his gratitude to Genk fans after  joining  Premier League side Wolves in a reported £24 million deal.

‎In a heartfelt message shared on X, the 24-year-old thanked the Belgian club for their support over the past two years.

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‎“After two years with this club and its amazing fans, it’s time for me to take the next step in my career,” Arokodare wrote. “I want to thank every teammate, coach, and supporter who has stood by me during my time here. The city of Genk has been nothing but good to me, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I leave proud to have worn this badge and wish the club nothing but success in the future.”

‎Arokodare enjoyed a stellar 2023/24 season, scoring 23 goals and providing seven assists in 43 appearances. His performances saw him finish as joint-top scorer in the Jupiler Pro League and help Genk secure third place.

Troubled knee stopped Leverkusen star

Genk’s Nigeria International  striker Tolu Arokodare is one of several names now been considered by AC Milan after a deal with his compatriot and Bayer Leverkusen Victor Boniface fell through over the weekend.

On Friday, Boniface  stormed Italy for his medicals with the Rossoneri after about  30 million  Euros (consisting of a €5m loan fee and a €24m option to buy at a later date), deal  was struck with Leverkusen .

But the potential transfer  reportedly  developed  a K-leg after the Nigeria International striker underwent a rigorous examinations . 

 “We knew that he had problems in the past, we are evaluating everything as planned with regards to the health and fitness of the player,” Milan sporting director Igli Tare reportedly told the press on Saturday. “His qualities are undoubted. We are just trying to make the right decision for this situation.”

German influential tabloid Bild as per Football Italia, claimed the former Union Saint-Gilloise striker was subjected to four separate medical examinations in Italy since ‘the Rossoneri  had concerns regarding Boniface’s injury history, which includes two cruciate ligament (ACL) tears on the same knee during his time with Bodo/Glimt, plus a series of muscular injuries that caused him to miss chunks of each of the last two seasons with Bayer Leverkusen’.

It was also gathered that Boniface had been sent back to Germany yesterday with

Leverkusen chief Simon Rolfes quoted as saying that: “If he (Boniface) comes back (to Leverkusen), the Milan deal will be over. It’s no big secret.”

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Be that as it may, transfer expert  Matteo Moretto speaking on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel, said  Milan was working on ‘several operations’ after  the  deal to snap up Boniface fell through.

He cited Danish sensation Conrad Harder along with Italy’s Dusan Vlahovic as well as Norwegian Rasmus Hojlund and Nigeria International striker Tolu Arokodare  as other potential options  for the Rossoneri.

 “Plan A at this moment, the player with whom Milan has had the most contact and for whom they are negotiating both with Sporting and with the player’s entourage is Harder, a Danish striker with a class of 2005,” Moretto, the retired Italian midfielder stated inter alia.

“I always keep these names on Milan’s list. Let’s start with Rasmus Hojlund. It’s true that Napoli are very close to the Dane, Napoli are in advanced negotiations, well underway for Hojlund: a loan transfer with an option to buy that could become a mandatory one.

 “Keep an eye on Milan if they decide to change strategy by going for Hojlund, changing the conditions with United and going all-in on the player. We’ll see, there are evaluations underway: the news is that Napoli are ahead and want to try to close the deal in the next few hours.

 “In addition to Hojlund, Vlahovic, and Harder, there’s Embolo and Arokodare, two names that are always good in these final days of the transfer window.”

Tolu Arokodare has been linked with multiple clubs this summer, and he could be on his way to Italy soon…

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Napoli coach Antonio Conte has taken a liking for Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare as his club is looking to sign a new striker this summer, Soccernet.ng reports.

Despite KRC Genk’s poor start to the 2025/26 season, Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare remains confident that the team will bounce back, even as they continue their search for a first win after three games.

Arokodare found the net in Genk’s 2-1 defeat to Standard Liège on Sunday, marking his first goal of the season. However, the 23-year-old has yet to start a match this campaign, featuring only as a substitute in all three fixtures.

The Super Eagles forward enjoyed a standout 2024/25 season, scoring 21 goals and providing five assists in 40 appearances. His impressive performances earned him the Belgian Pro League Golden Boot and the title of Best African Player of the Season.

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His stellar form attracted interest from clubs across Europe during the summer transfer window, but no official bids were tabled, leaving his future at Genk uncertain.

Reflecting on the team’s recent form, Arokodare told Voetbal Krant: “I don’t think we could have played much better. We were solid from the start and tried different tactics, but we conceded two unlucky goals. There are still plenty of games left.”

Currently sitting 14^th  in the league standings, Genk will look to spark a turnaround when they host bottom-placed Oud-Heverlee Leuven  today. With his future still unresolved, Arokodare is expected to play a bigger role in the coming matches.

Tolu Arokodare has attracted interest from across Europe, with his latest suitors being another top Italian Serie A club, Atalanta.

With the recent transfer of Mateo Retegui to Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, Atalanta are shopping for a new forward to enhance their attacking options under the guidance of new coach Ivan Juric.

Arokodare is considered one of the primary targets for the club as they search for an ideal replacement to reinforce their team.

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The 24-year-old Super Eagles striker was the top scorer in the recent Jupiler Pro League season in Belgium.

The striker’s contract with Genk is valid until June 2027, and his market value is estimated at €18.00 million by Transfermarkt.

Besides interest from Italian clubs, other teams such as Fulham and Manchester United have also been linked to the forward.