Transfer expert hints at possible summer departure for Ajax’s Chuba Akpom

Transfer Exper and Ajax insider, Lentin Goodijk, has revealed that Nigeria-eligible striker, Chuba Amechi Akpom, is on the way out of the club, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 28-year-old joined the four-time UEFA Champions League winners last summer from EFL Championship side, Middlesbrough, signing a four-year deal.

The move, however, hasn’t gone to plan as the Arsenal Hale End Academy graduate has struggled to stamp his foot in the first team. Soccernet.ng earlier reported that the striker is unhappy, and just wants to play football, even if it is away from the Johan Cruyff Arena.

In a discussion with Dutch outlet, Voetbal International, Goodijk revealed Akpom could have left the club during the winter transfer window, but the interested club couldn’t match Ajax’s player valuation.

“During the winter transfer period, Ajax said no to a transfer. They wanted a lot of money for Akpom, but he was worth too much to let go. He proved before the winter break that he could deliver as a substitute or in Brobbey’s absence. He is exceptionally efficient, with eleven goals and three assists in eleven starts,” Goodijk said as revealed by Soccernews.

Sven Mislintat was appointed to be in charge of Ajax’s scouting and transfer after his expertise with VFB Stuttgart. He was however given a small budget and couldn’t mastermind a squad rebuild and was fired. As per Fear The Wall, Mislintat is linked with a return to Borussia Dortmund.

The German transfer expert made the move to bring Akpom to Ajax, and following his departure, Goodijk revealed the club might be unwilling to hold on to the former Hull City man.

“Akpom has done very well in England. He is homegrown and can provide good statistics. Clubs in the right-hand row of the Premier League in particular are very interested in this. Ajax can therefore earn a nice transfer fee from him, but not only from the striker,” he added.

Ajax had a terrible outing in this season’s Eredivisie campaign, racking up 55 points from 33 games. They’re also in 5th place on the league table, 33 points behind league Champions, PSV Eindhoven.

Adefolahan Guerreiro

Adefolahan is a multilingual journalist and writer at Soccernet Nigeria.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a track record of involvement in College sports, Adefolahan is focused on crafting engaging football content and utilising his language skills and extensive sports knowledge to enhance content accessibility for a global audience.

He has interviewed Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.