Wolverhampton Wanderers lioanee Tolu Arokodare has insisted that Dutch giants Ajax belong in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) rather than the UEFA Conference League (UECL).
The Nigerian striker made the assertion ahead of Ajax’s UEFA Conference League qualifier against Swiss club FC Sion on Thursday.
Speaking to ESPN, Arokodare highlighted Ajax’s status as the biggest club in Dutch football and stressed that their ambition should be to compete in Europe’s elite competition.
"Ajax is of course the biggest club in the Dutch league," Arokodare said. "We know that as a team, as players, as football fans. Everyone knows that. With all due respect to the Conference League, but the Conference League is not where Ajax wants to be as a team. You want to play in the Champions League."
The towering striker also revealed that Ajax’s main objective this season is to win the Eredivisie title and return to the Champions League.
"The most important goal for this season is therefore obviously to win matches, take the title, and return to the right position. Namely, qualification for the Champions League," he added.
Arokodare, however, admitted that the club must first focus on their immediate task of progressing in the Conference League before turning their attention to their long-term ambitions.
"For the time being, we are in the Conference League and we are going to focus on what lies ahead. We are concentrating on our task, which is to reach the Conference League," Arokodare noted.
"We are focusing on returning to the position that is rightfully ours."
The Nigerian striker joined Ajax during the current summer window following a difficult spell in the Premier League, where he was unable to help Wolverhampton Wanderers avoid relegation to the Championship.
Arokodare will now be keen to make a strong impact in the Netherlands and help Ajax recover from a disappointing 2025/2026 campaign as they look to return to the top of Dutch football and secure Champions League qualification.
Adeyemi Adewale
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