Tolu Arokodare Biography: Age, Salary, Parents, Net Worth, Wife, Kids, Stats, Height, Goals

Biography

Toluwalase “Tolu” Emmanuel Arokodare, born on November 23, 2000, in Festac, Nigeria, is a gifted professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Belgian club KRC Genk and the Nigeria national team.

Standing at 1.97m, he began his career with Nigerian academies, including Kash Academy and Box2Box FC, before moving to Europe with Latvian club Valmiera in 2019.

After loan spells at 1. FC Köln and Amiens SC, he joined Genk in 2023, where he scored 20 goals in the 2024-25 Belgian Pro League season, earning the 2025 Ebony Shoe as the best African player in Belgium.

Nigerian footballer
Tolu Arokodare
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare
Stage Name:	Tolu Arokodare
Born:	23 November 2000 (age 24 years old)
Place of Birth:	Festac Town, Lagos, Nigeria
State Of Origin:	Lagos State
Nationality:	Nigerian
Education:	Kash Academy, Flying Sports Academy, Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy
Height:	1.97 m
Parents:	Mr. and Mrs. Arokodare
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Not Married
Girlfriend • Partner:	Pamela Mlunjwana (2024-)
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Football Player
Net Worth:	$250,000-$500,000 (USD)

Early Life & Education

Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare, commonly known as Tolu, was born on November 23, 2000, in Festac Town, Lagos, Nigeria. He is Nigerian, with roots in Lagos, a major cultural and economic hub in Nigeria.

His specific ethnic group is Yoruba. He is a Christian and he often expressed gratitude to God in interviews.

Tolu’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arokodare, attended his Belgian Golden Boot award ceremony in 2025, where he was crowned the Belgian Pro League’s top scorer. There is no information available regarding Arokodare’s siblings.

His early life revolved around football in Nigeria, where he developed his skills at several academies in Festac, including Kash Academy and Flying Sports Academy. He also attended the Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy, a notable institution for nurturing young talent in Nigeria.

Later, he joined the Box2Box FC academy in Surulere, Lagos, which further honed his abilities. Arokodare had trials with European clubs SC Freiburg (Germany) and Toulouse (France) before signing with Latvian club Valmiera in June 2019, marking the start of his professional career.

Career

Toluwalase “Tolu” Emmanuel Arokodare, born on November 23, 2000, in Festac, Nigeria, is a professional centre-forward for KRC Genk in the Belgian Pro League and a rising star with the Nigerian national team.

He began his football journey at grassroots academies such as Kash Academy, Flying Sports Academy, and Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy, before refining his skills at Box2Box FC in Lagos.

His early promise led to trial opportunities with European clubs SC Freiburg in Germany and Toulouse in France. In June 2019, at just 18, he signed his first professional contract with Latvian side Valmiera, where he made an immediate impact by scoring 22 goals in 34 matches.

In September 2020, Arokodare was loaned to Bundesliga outfit 1. FC Köln for the 2020–21 season. He made his debut on September 26, 2020, against Arminia Bielefeld but struggled to find consistent playing time. The following year, he moved to France on a two-year loan to Ligue 2 club Amiens SC, where he netted 21 goals and added four assists.

Although praised for his goal-scoring instincts, he drew critique from coach Philippe Hinschberger for his rawness and need to polish technical skills such as link-up play and positioning. Despite these challenges, Arokodare’s potential was clear, though his conversion rate of 11% highlighted room for growth.

On January 31, 2023, Arokodare signed a permanent four-and-a-half-year contract with Belgian giants KRC Genk, stepping in as the replacement for fellow Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu. He made an instant impact, scoring on his debut as a substitute in a 3–2 win over Gent. Under the guidance of coaches Wouter Vrancken and Thorsten Fink, he flourished, earning praise for his pace, physical presence, and eagerness to develop.

The 2024–25 season proved to be a breakout year. Arokodare scored 21 goals and delivered five assists in 40 league appearances, boasting a 0.61 goals-per-90 rate and a non-penalty xG of 0.64—ranking him in the 99th percentile among Pro League forwards.

He tallied 137 shots (50 on target) with a shooting accuracy of 36.5%, alongside a pass completion rate of 76.13% and nearly one key pass per game. He also contributed two goals in the Belgian Cup and three more in 11 appearances across European competitions.

His stellar season earned him a share of the Belgian Pro League Golden Boot with 21 goals, tying with St. Truiden striker Adriano Bertaccini. He was honored with the prestigious 2025 Ebony Shoe award as the best African player in Belgium, joining a distinguished list of Nigerian winners that includes Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba, Godwin Okpara, Celestine Babayaro, and Paul Onuachu. He also earned a spot in the 2024 Belgian League Golden XI alongside compatriot Raphael Onyedika.

Internationally, Arokodare received his first call-up to the Nigerian national team in March 2025 under coach Eric Chelle. He made his debut in World Cup qualifiers, coming off the bench in a 2–0 victory against Rwanda and a 1–1 draw with Zimbabwe. He scored his first international goal in June 2025 and expressed heartfelt gratitude to Victor Osimhen for his mentorship. Despite his strong form, he was controversially left out of Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 qualifier squad.

As of late 2025, Arokodare’s transfer value is estimated at €13 million, attracting attention from clubs in the English Premier League and Turkish Süper Lig. His rapid rise from Nigerian academies to European stardom marks him as one of Nigeria’s most promising new talents.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Tolu Arokodare
• Instagram: Toluwalase Arokodare (@t.e.a.7_)
• Twitter: T.e.a.7_ (@toluarokodare) / X

Personal Life

Toluwalase “Tolu” Emmanuel Arokodare was born on November 23, 2000, in Festac, Nigeria, making him 24 years old as of June 12, 2025.

He stands at 1.97 meters (6 feet 5 inches) tall, a physical attribute that enhances his presence as a centre-forward for KRC Genk and the Nigeria national team.

Tolu Arokodare is not married or has no children. Regarding his dating history, reports from August 2024 suggest that Arokodare was in a relationship with Pamela Mlunjwana, a 34-year-old Zimbabwean influencer and businesswoman based in Dubai, who is the CEO of Spice Life Cosmetics Ltd.

The relationship was seemingly confirmed through Instagram posts by Mlunjwana, which included affectionate photos of the couple, such as her wearing his Genk jersey during a match against Standard Liège on July 28, 2024.

However, no further updates confirm the current status of this relationship, and no other details about his dating history are available in the provided sources.

Net Worth

Tolu Arokodare’s net worth is estimated to be between $250,000 and $500,000, primarily derived from his professional football career with KRC Genk in the Belgian Pro League.

His annual salary is reported to be approximately $1 million, though specific figures for his current Genk contract are not publicly verified. In 2024, negotiations with Turkish club Trabzonspor stalled due to Arokodare’s demand for a $2.5 million annual salary against their $1.5 million offer.

His market value, reflecting his rising status, is estimated at €13 million as of December 2024. These figures are subject to change based on contracts, endorsements, and performance.