'I tried to sign him from Arsenal' - Ajax's Director of Football says he wanted Akpom at Borussia Dortmund 

Ajax's Director of Football, Sven Mislintat has admitted that he wanted to sign Chuba Akpom for Borussia Dortmund eight years ago but the Nigerian striker decided to remain at Arsenal. 

Dortmund-born Mislintat worked as Head of Scouting and Head of Professional Football at Borussia Dortmund from 2006 to 2017, before joining Arsenal as Head of Recruitment. 

Several years after missing out on the signature of Akpom, Mislintat pulled off a transfer coup by luring the Super Eagles hopeful to Ajax Amsterdam, beating clubs in France, England and Germany to his signature.

Middlesbrough agreed to end their association with the 27-year-old in exchange for a guaranteed fee of €12.3 million, plus two million euros in performance-related add-ons.

Akpom made a splash in the EFL Championship last season, scoring 28 goals in 38 appearances to finish the campaign as the division's top scorer. 

The Hale End Academy product took in loan spells at Brentford, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Hull City,  Brighton & Hove Albion and Sint-Truiden during his time at Arsenal. 

Speaking to Ajax TV, Sven Mislintat said: "To be honest I was already interested once in him. When he was 19, I tried to sign him from Arsenal to Borussia Dortmund but made a decision to stay at Arsenal and afterwards he had many loan spells.

"This maybe stopped a possible career he could have had earlier. I am quite happy for him that now at the age of 27 he developed to that kind of striker he can be.

"It's very difficult to score so many goals in the English Championship, 28. Very tough competition to be honest and many players who did so like he did last season afterwards played fantastic seasons in first leagues."

Mislintat also highlighted the versatility that Akpom will bring to the Ajax Amsterdam team, saying he can play as a number 9, support striker, winger and attacking midfielder. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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