By Wale Mustapha
Turkish Super Lig giants Besiktas have expressed interest in signing Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare following his standout season with Belgian side Genk.
The 23-year-old Super Eagles forward enjoyed a breakthrough 2024/25 campaign, scoring 23 goals and providing seven assists in 45 appearances across all competitions.
His performances earned him the Belgian Pro League Golden Boot as the season’s top scorer.
Arokodare’s form has attracted attention from several top clubs, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and an unnamed Premier League side also reportedly monitoring his situation.
According to Transfer Feed, Besiktas have made initial contact with the player’s representatives to inquire about his availability and potential transfer valuation.
The Turkish club is now considering a formal bid as part of their summer recruitment drive.
Arokodare is widely expected to leave Genk in the coming transfer window, and a move to a higher-profile league appears increasingly likely.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
