Toluwalase "Tolu" Emmanuel Arokodare (born 23 November 2000) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Belgian club Genk.[1]
Career
During his youth in Nigeria, Arokodare played for Kash Academy and Flying Sports Academy in Festac, as well as the Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy. He later joined the Box2Box FC academy in Surulere, Lagos, and had trials with European clubs SC Freiburg and Toulouse. He then joined Latvian club Valmiera in June 2019.[2] In September 2020, Arokodare was loaned to German club 1. FC Köln for the 2020–21 season.[3] He made his professional debut for Köln in the Bundesliga on 26 September 2020, coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute for Sebastian Andersson in the away match against Arminia Bielefeld, which finished as a 1–0 loss.[4] On 28 June 2021, Arokodare joined Ligue 2 club Amiens on a two-year loan deal with an option to buy.[5]
On 31 January 2023, Arokodare joined Belgian Pro League side Genk on a permanent deal, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal,[6] scoring on his debut as substitute against Gent in a 3–2 away win.
Personal life
Arokodare was born in Festac Town in Lagos, Nigeria.[2]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 23 February 2025
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Valmiera | 2019 | Virsliga | 16 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 7 | ||
| 2020 | 16 | 15 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 17 | 15 | ||||
| Total | 32 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 34 | 22 | |||
| 1. FC Köln (loan) | 2020–21 | Bundesliga | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| Amiens (loan) | 2021–22 | Ligue 2 | 35 | 8 | 5 | 5 | — | — | 40 | 13 | ||
| 2022–23 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 23 | 8 | ||||
| Total | 55 | 14 | 8 | 7 | — | — | 63 | 21 | ||||
| Genk | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | 11 | 2 | |||
| 2023–24 | 40 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 4[b] | 2 | — | 45 | 14 | |||
| 2024–25 | 26 | 15 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 30 | 16 | ||||
| Total | 77 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | 86 | 32 | |||
| Career total | 176 | 65 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 194 | 73 | ||
- ^ Includes Latvian Cup, DFB-Pokal, Coupe de France, Belgian Cup
- ^ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances and two goals in UEFA Conference League
References
- ^ Tolu Arokodare at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b Babatunde, Ojora (23 July 2020). "The first word I said was goal – Toluwalase Arokodare". OJB Sport. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ "FC verpflichtet Tolu Arokodare" [FC signs Tolu Arokodare]. FC.de (in German). 1. FC Köln. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Germany » Bundesliga 2020/2021 » 2. Round » Arminia Bielefeld – 1. FC Köln 1:0". WorldFootball.net. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ "TOLUWALASE AROKODARE EST AMIÉNOIS!" (in French). Amiens SC. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "JONGE NIGERIAAN AROKODARE (22) KOMT GENKSE VOORHOEDE VERSTERKEN" (in Dutch). K.R.C. Genk. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
External links
- Tolu Arokodare at kicker (in German)
- Tolu Arokodare at Soccerway