Oliseh, Finidi back Akpom to shine at Ajax

Former Ajax stars, Finidi George and Sunday Oliseh have backed Chuba Akpom to deliver success for the Dutch giants, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Akpom signed a five-year contract with Ajax from Championship club Middlesbrough in a deal worth up to £12.2m.

The 27-year-old joined the club in the summer after a standout season for Middlesbrough last season, scoring 29 goals in 42 games in all competitions.

Finidi, who won three league titles and the 1995 European Champions League with Ajax, believes the Nigerian player will thrive at the Amsterdam Arena.

“He’s a great signing,” he told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“I’ve no doubt that he’ll do very well.

“He’s going to have more space in Ajax. He’s very fast, very strong and with great players will help him.”

Oliseh, who played for Dutch giants from 1997 to 1999 winning one Dutch Eredivisie and two Dutch Cup titles, also believes the former PAOK forward will be more clinical if he adapts quickly to the way the club plays.

“Akpom is a great signing for Ajax and I believe he will be more clinical at Ajax once he understands the way the club plays.

“His statistics are very good and I think he will be an asset.”

He adds that their new signing will help them bounce back when the Eredivisie restarts after the international break.

“It’s true that last year didn’t go as planned,” he said.

“But the team came from years of winning everything and sometimes that happens in football. You have to build a great team so it’s important they start winning matches.”

Ajax finished third in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2022/23 season, 13 points behind champions and fierce rivals Feyenoord, but started this campaign with a 4-1 win over Heracles Almelo.

They are currently 11th in the Eredivisie table with five points from three games.