Chuba Akpom Won’t Play For Ajax Due To Work Permit

Nigerian football star, Chuba Akpom won’t feature for his new club, Ajax at 3 p.m. later today, August 19, since he has not been able to secure his work permit.

Ajax planned to play their second 2023-2024 Eredivisie game with Chuba Akpom who joined the club from EFL Championship side Middlesbrough this month in a deal worth up to £12.2 million.

Unfortunately, his yet-to-be-rectified work permit won’t permit the Nigeria international prospect to play against Excelsior at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion in Rotterdam.

Dutch daily newspaper Algemeen Dagblad confirmed on Friday that the former Middlesbrough striker is still waiting on a work permit.

Hence, the 27-year-old forward might not be available when Maurice Steijn’s club plays Bulgaria’s Ludogorets Razgrad on Thursday in the Europa League knockout stage.

Ajax won their opening Eredivisie game against Heracles on August 12. The 4-1 victory has left them in the second spot on the league table, behind first-placed AZ Alkmaar due to inferior goals difference.

Last season, Chuba Akpom finished the season as the top scorer in the EFL Championship with 29 goals but that couldn’t help Middlesbrough to regain promotion to the Premier League.

Before he left England, the former Arsenal striker scored 106 goals in 309 games in all competitions.

At Ajax, Akpom will don the number 10 jersey which means that the Nigerian football star is expected to be a prominent member of the four-time UEFA Champions League winners.