Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare told the press he was never Anderlecht’s first-choice signing, amid reports he twice rejected a move to the Belgian giants before joining domestic rivals KRC Genk.
The Nigerian forward, currently leading the Belgian Pro League scoring charts, addressed claims that he sidelined Anderlecht’s approach during two separate transfer windows.
“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,” he told Het Nieuwsblad, via Voetbal Belgie.
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Arokodare first rose to prominence at Valmiera in Latvia, where his consistent goalscoring performances caught the eye of several clubs across Europe.
Photo credit – Imago
At that point, Anderlecht expressed interest, but Arokodare instead opted for a move to the Bundesliga with FC Köln. His time in Germany, however, was underwhelming and short-lived.
Following a more promising stint in France with SC Amiens, Anderlecht reignited their interest. But the Lagos-born striker once again took a different path — this time joining KRC Genk in January 2023, reportedly in a €5 million deal.
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Anderlecht have since suggested that their failure to sign the Nigerian was down to tensions with his agent, Didier Frenay. But Arokodare has now set the record straight.
The decision has proven fruitful. Arokodare is now valued at €13 million by Transfermarkt and has attracted interest from clubs in Europe’s top five leagues. Genk are believed to be holding out for a fee at least five times their original investment.
