Belgian club KRC Genk have immediately replaced Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu with another Nigerian forward, Toluwalase Arokodare, from Latvian side Valmiera.
The 22-year-old joins the Smurfs in a permanent transfer on a four-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
He has spent the last two seasons on loan in the French Ligue 2 with Amiens, where he scored eight goals in 23 games across all competitions this season.
Arokodare will have big shoes to fill as he joins the Belgian Pro League leaders as an instant replacement for Onuachu, who secured a move to the Premier League to join Southampton on Deadline Day.
Onuachu departs Belgium as the league’s leading scorer this season with 16 goals in 19 appearances, while also helping them top the league standings.
𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗸𝗼𝗺, 𝗧𝗼𝗹𝘂! 🔵⚪
De jonge Nigeriaan tekent een contract voor 4,5 seizoenen in de Cegeka Arena.
Veel succes en welkom bij onze #mijnploeg, Tolu. 💙
Lees meer 🔗 https://t.co/qxB9Tq8njj pic.twitter.com/Jzz15PpRgi
— KRC Genk (@KRCGenkofficial) February 1, 2023
Arokodare was delighted at making the move while also acknowledging the enormous void he has to fill.
“I am very happy to be in Genk. At this point in my career, I can’t imagine a better club,” Arokodare told the club’s media.
“Together with the team I hope to continue the good results of the first half of the season and to win prizes. Paul leaves big shoes to fill. But I am determined to give 100% for this great club.”
The club’s sporting director, Dimitri Conde, revealed the criteria for signing the player and expressed the club’s satisfaction with getting their man.
“Despite his height, he is very agile, fast in the first meters and strong with his head”, he said.
“Tolu is already showing flashes of its class today. In addition, there is also a lot of stretch. Under the wings of our technical staff, he will be able to take major steps forward in the coming years. We have proven with several other young talents that KRC Genk is the ideal environment for this,” Conde added.
Arokodare will hope to make his debut on Saturday, when Genk take on fifth-placed KAA Gent away from home.
