Arokodare’s €13 Million Breakout: Anderlecht’s Missed Opportunity Now Premier League’s Gain?

Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare has revealed that he was never Anderlecht’s first-choice target, despite initial interest from the Belgian club. The 24-year-old, currently leading the Belgian Pro League’s scoring charts, addressed reports suggesting he twice turned down a move to the Belgian giants before ultimately joining domestic rivals KRC Genk.

At Valmiera in Latvia, Arokodare initially gained recognition for his goal-scoring prowess, which attracted the interest of other European clubs. Although Anderlecht expressed interest, the Nigerian striker decided to join FC Köln in the Bundesliga.

Move to Genk Pays Off

Anderlecht resumed their pursuit of Arokodare following a more fruitful period in France with SC Amiens. But the striker, who was born in Lagos, decided to take a different route and signed for KRC Genk in January 2023 for an estimated €5 million.

Despite claims from Anderlecht that tensions with his agent, Didier Frenay, played a role in their failure to sign him, Arokodare has now set the record straight. He explained to Het Nieuwsblad: “I was certainly not Anderlecht’s first choice. They would have let me stay if a striker higher up in the pecking order had taken the bait.”

Arokodare's Rise

The decision to join Genk has proven to be a fruitful one. Top European teams are keeping an eye on Arokodare's outstanding achievements, and Transfermarkt currently values him at €13 million. Due to his exceptional play this season, he was called up to the Nigerian national team, where he scored in a 2-0 victory over Rwanda in March.

Arokodare, who has scored 18 goals this season, is having a breakthrough season in Belgium and has solidified his spot on the radar of major European teams, even though Anderlecht is not their main priority.

Premier League Clubs Eye Arokodare

Arokodare’s rise has caught the attention of several Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United. Scouts from these clubs are set to watch him closely during KRC Genk’s match against Club Brugge on Sunday. Arokodare’s physicality and goal-scoring instinct have drawn comparisons to former Genk striker Paul Onuachu, and his future in Belgium is now uncertain.