Soccer
Nigeria’s Chuba Akpom. Photo by IMAGO
Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom has admitted that his time at AFC Ajax was one of the most difficult periods of his career, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Ipswich Town striker revealed that the instability inside the Dutch club affected both his confidence and performances.
Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf via Goal, Akpom reflected on a turbulent stay in Amsterdam that began in the summer of 2023 after his move from Middlesbrough. The former Arsenal academy player arrived in the Netherlands after winning the Championship Golden Boot, but he struggled to establish himself consistently in a rapidly changing Ajax side.
Akpom still produced respectable numbers across two seasons. He made 68 appearances in all competitions, scoring 23 goals and registering four assists. Fourteen of those goals came in the Eredivisie, while he also scored four times in the UEFA Europa League and another four goals in Europa League qualifying matches.
His most productive period came during the 2023-24 campaign when he scored 11 league goals in 25 appearances, despite often being used from the bench. Yet his spell at Ajax was widely viewed as disappointing because the club itself was going through one of the most unstable periods in its modern history.
“There were many new players, a new coach and a new technical director,” Akpom explained.
“With so many changes, it’s difficult to succeed immediately. I would have preferred to arrive in a stable situation; now, all the new signings had a tough time.”
The striker was one of 12 players signed under former technical director Sven Mislintat, whose recruitment policy came under fierce criticism during Ajax’s poor run of form in the 2023-24 season.
Soccer Chuba Akpom: Ajax criticism affected confidence
Akpom admitted that the criticism surrounding Mislintat’s signings eventually affected the dressing room atmosphere and the confidence of several players.
“Many people criticized him,” Akpom said. “The players signed by Mislintat almost felt guilty for having a long and expensive contract. That undermined our confidence and, in my opinion, we were viewed with suspicion.”
His Ajax career effectively ended in August 2025 when he joined Ipswich Town on a season-long loan. The deal included a mandatory purchase clause worth around £7 million (€9.3m) if Ipswich secured promotion to the Premier League.
That condition was triggered after Kieran McKenna’s side finished second in the Championship to seal automatic promotion back to the top flight. Ajax are now set to receive the full transfer fee, a development Akpom says makes him happy despite his difficult experience at the Dutch giants.
“I’m very happy about it,” he said. “Ajax is a fantastic club. I’m happy for them and wish them all the best.”
Akpom’s own contribution to Ipswich’s promotion campaign was modest. He scored two goals in 31 appearances across all competitions, with strikes against Hull City and Oxford United. As the season progressed, his involvement reduced sharply, and he played only around 200 minutes during the final months of the campaign while George Hirst remained first-choice striker.
Still, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna valued Akpom’s movement, pressing and work ethic within the squad structure that eventually secured Premier League football. The 30-year-old has now signed a permanent contract at Portman Road running until June 2029.
Imhonlamhen
Imhonlamhen is a football writer and editor at Soccernet.ng with over six years’ experience shaping its editorial voice. A lifelong Arsenal and Super Eagles fan, he combines engineering precision with training in journalism and digital media. He has covered four AFCONs and two Women’s AFCON tournaments, specialising in Super Eagles history and tracking Nigerian players worldwide, while keeping a close eye on the NPFL and emerging homegrown talents.
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