Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare has admitted that his decision to join Wolves in the English Premier League was not influenced by anyone.
Arokodare, 24, secured a dream move to the EPL when he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on summer transfer deadline day.
The Super Eagles forward penned a four-year contract at the club, with the English side agreeing a fee of £23.4 million with Genk.
They will pay an initial £22.5 million fee with a further £900,000 in performance-related add-ons for the 24-year-old.
The Nigerian striker made his debut last weekend in a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United at the St James’ Park.
Although it was a below par outing with limited services received, the forward showed glimpses of what he has to offer before he was withdrawn in the 66th minute for Jhon Arias.
“When Wolverhampton became concrete, I didn’t hesitate for a second. No one had to convince me. Everyone also knew I absolutely wanted to go to the Premier League”, Arokodare said.
“There might have been other rumours [AC Milan and Napoli], but in my head, I only wanted one thing.”
Arokodare rose to prominence last season with a very productive season for Genk as they narrowly missed out on the league title.
He netted 17 times in the league and his impressive displays saw him earn the Belgian golden boot, as well as the Ebony award, given to the best-performing African player in the league.
However, he was limited to just four substitute appearances this season, with the club willing to part ways with him.
“The Wolverhampton shirt already fits me like a glove. [Wolves are known for] using their strikers well. I’ll benefit from that”, the forward added.
Arokodare will hope for an improved performance in his next outing for Wolves, when they face newly-promoted Leeds United at the Molineux on Saturday.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
