Tolu Arokodare has burst onto the Belgian scene this season, lighting up Genk’s attack and surging to the top of the scoring charts. The 24-year-old Nigerian striker was among the scorers in Genk’s recent 4–1 victory over KAA Gent, his 88th-minute goal in that match marking his 21st goal of the season in all competitions. Those 21 goals break down into 17 during the 30-game regular season and an additional 4 in the Championship play-offs. In doing so, Arokodare catapulted himself into contention for the league’s golden boot; as one report notes, his late strike “shot him to the top of the scorers chart”. By mid-May, he was the Belgian Pro League’s leading marksman (around 21–22 goals, according to multiple sources ), level with Sint-Truiden’s Adriano Bertaccini just before the final day.
Arokodare’s form has been nothing short of spectacular. In mid-May, he reveled in retaking a share of the scoring lead: “It’s nice to be top scorer again,” he said, reflecting a quiet confidence. Remarkably, many of his playoff goals have come from the bench, a role the striker accepts with characteristic team spirit. He admitted before the Gent game, “I knew I wouldn’t start (the game)…Of course, we have other players who deserve to play minutes in the play-offs, so I could understand that choice”. In other words, Arokodare has been effective whether he starts or not, and he knows it. His burst of late goals has earned him comparisons to a “goal machine,” as pundits and fans alike marvel at his knack for finding the net.
Genk’s veteran coach Thorsten Fink has been especially fulsome in praise. After Arokodare produced a goal and an assist in a crucial win over Anderlecht, Fink enthused: “Tolu is a top striker. He is fast, strong in the air, left and right-footed, and he scores. … Moreover, he now also carries out his defensive duties, which he didn’t do before”. Such endorsements underline Arokodare’s growing influence at Genk: once an inconsistent talent, he has “earned the confidence” of his coach and supporters by delivering goals at a dizzying rate. In fact, by late December, he had already scored 12 goals (with 6 assists) in just 21 games – nearly matching the 15 goals he netted in 52 games the previous season.
Belgium’s league format makes Arokodare’s tally all the more impressive. After 30 regular-season games, the Pro League splits into mini-tournaments, a quirky system that means finishing first at the end of the regular season is “only half the job”. The top six teams enter a Championship Play-off, taking half of their regular-season points (rounded up) into a ten-game round-robin. Essentially, each top-six club faces the others home and away one more time, meaning the title is decided over 40 games rather than 30. (Meanwhile, teams 7th–12th enter their own “Europe play-off” group, and the bottom four fight relegation in yet another playoff .)
For Genk and Arokodare, this means extra opportunities to score and extra pressure in a crowded title chase. Genk finished third after the regular season, carrying their points into the playoffs, where every match can swing the championship. The playoffs have become a high-stakes second act: points are halved, meaning leads can vanish and slumps can be costly. Arokodare has flourished in this crucible, adding 4 more goals since the split to bolster Genk’s challenge. His most recent strike, the Gent goal, was not only a personal milestone but also a timely gift to Genk’s ambitions. As Arokodare noted after the game, “It was important to get this victory, especially after such a long period without a win. This will give us extra motivation to win the last home game as well…we do want to end the season in style”.
Genk began the playoffs in fine form but has faced turbulence. For much of the season and into the early playoff rounds, Genk led the standings. However, April delivered setbacks. They lost consecutively to Club Brugge and Union Saint-Gilloise – the two main title rivals and then drew with Antwerp. Those results dropped Genk from the top spot, “relinquishing their position as league leaders” and allowing Union and Brugge to pull away. After nine playoff rounds, Genk sits third: Transfermarkt’s standings show Union SG on 53 points, Club Brugge on 52, and Genk on 44. In practical terms, Genk’s title hopes have dimmed, though mathematically they still have a sliver of a chance.
Through it all, Arokodare has remained a focal point. Even when games have been tough, Genk’s No. 99 has chipped in, notably scoring the equaliser in the 1–1 draw at Antwerp in late April, a point that kept pressure on the leaders. Coach Fink’s praise shows just how vital he has become: beyond goals, Arokodare now contributes defensively and sets an example of professionalism. Teammates and fans have warmed to him; no longer the inconsistent youngster of last season, he is now Genk’s talisman. In press conferences, Fink has gushed, “What more could you want” from a striker like Arokodare, citing his speed, aerial ability, ambidexterity, and goal-scoring instincts.
Genk’s overall form has surged since their winless stretch – the Gent victory ended “such a long period without a win” but frustration remains over missed title chances. Arokodare himself admitted there is “still disappointment about not winning the title”. Now the focus is on finishing strongly. A win on the last home game would lift spirits and secure Champions League qualification (Genk needs a top-two finish or the playoff champion’s berth). Each match in this playoff scramble is a final of sorts, and Arokodare’s presence at one end of the pitch is what Genk need most. As he said, they are determined “to end the season in style”, and he will be key to that run-in.
Arokodare’s haul of goals and man-of-the-match displays have not gone unnoticed beyond Belgium. In mid-May, he was honoured with the Ebony Shoe, Belgium’s award for the best African player in the Pro League. He becomes just the sixth Nigerian ever to win the prize (joining legends like Victor Ikpeba and Paul Onuachu), a point of great pride. After the ceremony, he said he was “speechless” and “honoured,” noting “it’s a huge accomplishment for me… to put my name in the history books of Belgian and Nigerian football”. The award caps a campaign in which the tall striker has already tallied well over 20 goals and added several assists.
Off the pitch, transfer chatter is growing. Media reports note that Arokodare is “the leading marksman” in Belgium this season and that clubs from major European leagues are circling. Indeed, Borussia Dortmund, one of Germany’s biggest clubs, has been linked with Arokodare as a transfer target for next season. The Daily Post reports that Dortmund have identified the Nigerian as “one of their transfer targets for the 2025/26 season,” and that Genk would consider offers if they come. Interest from Turkey and England has also been mentioned in the press. All the while, his contract at Genk runs to 2027, so the club will be in a strong negotiating position.
What does this mean for Arokodare’s trajectory? If he keeps up his scoring rhythm, a big move could be on the cards. Top European clubs prize tall, athletic center-forwards, and at 24, he is entering the prime years. Success in this season’s playoffs, even without a title, would only boost his stock. Importantly, his form has also earned him renewed attention from the Nigerian national team. The Super Eagles have a new coach, Eric Chelle, and pundits are noting that Arokodare’s performances “continue to soar with glimpses of why he needs more playing time” for Nigeria. A few more goals could see him firmly in the conversation for Africa’s showpiece tournaments.
For now, Arokodare remains focused on Genk. In interviews, he repeatedly emphasizes team goals over personal accolades – but in doing so, he ends up writing both chapters. His journey from an often-criticized talent to Belgium’s top scorer is a story of hard work and confidence. As the final whistle approaches on this season, the striker and his club have a chance to finish “in style”. Beyond that, each goal he nets adds to a resume that could soon unlock a new chapter: perhaps Champions League nights or a transfer to one of Europe’s big leagues. Either way, the roar of the Genk faithful each time their centre-forward strikes the ball suggests that Tolu Arokodare has already won more than just points for his team; he has won their hearts.
