From Tolu Arokodare’s flying start at Ajax to Kelechi Iheanacho’s remarkable scoring run in Turkey, several Nigerian players are enjoying a resurgence after difficult spells at their previous clubs. PUNCH Sports Extra’s ABIODUN ADEWALE looks at some of the stars rediscovering their best form

TOLU AROKODARE (AJAX)

The Ajax striker, who joined the Dutch giants from Wolves on a season-long loan, has made a blistering start to the campaign, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 11 appearances across all competitions.

He made a celebrated move from Belgium to the English Premier League last term, but struggled to cement his place at Molineux, with his relationship with the club reportedly turning sour towards the end of last season.

Since his arrival at Ajax, the lanky striker has rediscovered his form, scoring in four of their last five matches before Tuesday.

Arokodare came off the bench in his first four games for the club but has since earned a starting spot, featuring from the beginning in their last five matches.

KELECHI IHEANACHO (BURSASPOR)

Iheanacho spent much of last season on the treatment table at Celtic before regaining his fitness towards the end of the campaign.

In the 2025/26 campaign, he managed five goals in 13 league games despite being hampered by injury, helping Celtic to a domestic double in the process.

Now at Turkish first-division side Bursaspor, the 29-year-old cannot stop scoring, netting nine goals and providing two assists in seven consecutive games to emerge as the league’s top scorer.

GIFT ORBAN (AMEDSPOR)

Since January 2024, when he joined Lyon from Gent, Orban has switched clubs three times.

He moved from Lyon to Hoffenheim and then to Verona, all in search of the form that shot him to prominence in Belgium.

Now in Turkey with Amedspor, the 24-year-old has scored six goals and provided one assist in five league games, joining Victor Osimhen as the joint top scorer in the Super Lig.

His current tally is just one shy of his total haul of seven goals in 28 games for Verona last season, while he managed a combined seven league goals for Hoffenheim and Lyon in 29 games.

SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (AC MILAN)

Three years after joining AC Milan from Villarreal, Chukwueze is only now beginning to live up to the hype that earned him a €21.1m transfer to the Italian giants in the summer of 2023.

He struggled to establish himself at the club during his first two seasons, scoring just four league goals in 50 appearances before moving to Fulham on loan last season.

However, the 27-year-old has returned to Milan with a renewed opportunity to prove himself, which he is grabbing with both hands.

Now playing in a wing-back role under Ruben Amorim, the Nigerian has earned plaudits for his adaptation and provided two crucial assists for Milan this term after just four matches.

Chukwueze has enjoyed a promising start to his second spell at Milan, with his performances suggesting he could have an important role to play under Amorim in the 2026/27 season. (Guardian)