Chuba Akpom has revealed the emotional and mental rollercoaster he endured before sealing a €12.3m transfer from Middlesbrough to Ajax in 2023, admitting he was deeply tempted by a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia.
The Nigerian forward had just completed a sensational season in the English Championship, finishing as top scorer with 28 goals and two assists in 40 appearances for Boro.
That form attracted interest from several clubs across Europe and beyond.
“Before I signed for Ajax, I received an offer from Saudi Arabia,” Akpom said in a candid interview with Laviecutz’s TikTok channel, as quoted by Voetbalprimeur. “Then I didn’t sleep for five days.”
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Akpom admitted the figures on the contract began to cloud his thinking.
“When you hear there’s interest, it’s one thing — but when you see it on paper, your elbow starts to itch, everything starts to itch,” he joked.
“My girlfriend and I were in bed thinking about it… You start spending money you don’t even have yet!”
“We were at Disneyland, already dreaming of all the things we could buy, the life that lay ahead of us.”
Despite the Saudi distraction, Akpom ultimately chose Ajax — a move he hoped would catapult him to consistent top-flight football in Europe. But reality in Amsterdam proved far more difficult.
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His first season at Ajax was marred by managerial upheaval, poor team performances, and limited playing time.
By mid-season, the 28-year-old was loaned to French side Lille in search of more regular minutes.
