Ajax in Race Against Time for Arokodare's Clearance

Ajax have the striker they wanted. Now they just need permission to actually use him.

On Wednesday afternoon, the club filed the paperwork for Tolu Arokodare’s work permit, according to De Telegraaf. The timing is tight. Journalist Mike Verweij has already called it “a race against the clock”, and he is not exaggerating.

Ajax thrashed FK Vojvodina 1-4 in the first leg of their Conference League qualifier, a result that has one and a half feet already in the next round. The return at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Thursday should, in theory, be a formality. The real tension sits off the pitch.

Once this tie is wrapped up, Ajax must submit a fresh squad list to UEFA for the next qualifier, against either Shelbourne or Nomme Kalju. The deadline is brutal: Wednesday evening, 5 August. The club want Arokodare’s name on that list. Desperately.

That is why Jordi Cruyff will spend the coming days watching not tactics clips, but his inbox. As soon as the work permit lands, Ajax intend to register the Nigerian striker immediately for European competition. No delay, no hesitation.

Domestic Plans

And Europe is only half the story.

Coach Míchel wants the 1.97-metre forward available for the Eredivisie opener away to PEC Zwolle on Sunday 9 August. To make that happen, Ajax must register Arokodare with the KNVB by 12.00pm on Friday 7 August at the latest. Miss that window and the new signing watches the first league game from afar.

Inside the club, the hope is clear: get every form signed, stamped and processed well before those cut-offs, so Míchel can throw his new striker straight into the mix. Arokodare will not walk into a vacant role either. He is expected to battle Marcos Leonardo for the starting spot through the middle, after the Brazilian’s move from Al-Hilal for just under twenty million.

The transfer itself is already done. Also on Wednesday came formal confirmation of Arokodare’s switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ajax have taken the 23-year-old on a one-season loan, paying a modest fee and negotiating an option to buy set at twenty million euros.

The deal is agreed, the player is in, the plan is drawn. Now everything hinges on a piece of paper arriving in time to decide how quickly Ajax can unleash their new No 9 on Europe and the Eredivisie.