Tolu Arokodare has admitted that adapting to life in the Premier League has proven more challenging than he initially anticipated.
The Nigeria international joined Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. from Belgian Pro League side KRC Genk last summer but concedes his early months in England were far from smooth.
“The two leagues are comparable: physically demanding, intense, and fast. But in the Premier League, you have to double your efforts,” he told Het Nieuwsblad.
“It wasn’t easy, I admit. My first matches were a struggle. It was even harder than I expected. I’ve made progress since then, but I’m not where I want to be yet.”
Arokodare has managed two league goals so far, with Wolves currently battling to avoid relegation. The striker acknowledged the shift in expectations compared to last season, when he was among the top scorers in Belgium.
“I knew I wasn’t coming here on holiday, that I’d have to fight. So, not much has changed in that respect. I was fighting with Genk, and now I’m fighting with Wolves. Then for the title, now to stay up in the league,” he said.
“I want to learn from this and become stronger. But it goes without saying that it’s tough being top scorer last season and now not even close to double figures.”
Despite the challenges, Arokodare remains determined to adapt and prove himself in one of the world’s most competitive leagues.
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.
