By Wale Mustapha
Nigerian forward Tolu Arokodare has opened up on his decision to join Wolverhampton Wanderers, revealing that the move to the Premier League was simply irresistible.
The 24-year-old completed a deadline-day switch from Belgian Pro League side KRC Genk to Wolves, putting pen to paper on a permanent deal.
Despite being linked with several European clubs, Arokodare said the lure of England’s top flight was too strong to turn down.
The Super Eagles striker made his Wolves debut at the weekend, coming on against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Speaking to Belgian outlet HLN, Arokodare explained his mindset when Wolves made their approach.
“When Wolverhampton became concrete, I didn’t hesitate for a second. No one had to convince me,” he said.
“Everyone also knew I absolutely wanted to go to the Premier League.”
The move represents a significant step in Arokodare’s career after a successful spell with Genk, where he showcased his goalscoring ability in both domestic and European competitions.
At Wolves, under the guidance of Vítor Pereira, he will now look to establish himself in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
