Ajax ‘agree deal’ for Arsenal flop who turned career around in Championship

Ajax have reportedly agreed a deal with Middlesbrough for former Arsenal youngster Chuba Akpom.

The Eredivisie giants this week reached an agreement with the Championship side over a £10.4million fee plus £1.7m in add-ons. Akpom has also agreed personal terms with Ajax as he looks set to pen a five-year deal.

The Athletic reports the 27-year-old received permission from Boro to travel to the Netherlands, where he will undergo a medical on Monday.

It marks a stunning move for the striker, who was formerly on Arsenal’s books before enjoying the best spell of his career in the Championship, where he netted 33 times in 79 appearances.

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Akpom joined the Gunners’ famed Hale End academy aged six, going on to make his debut in the first team as a substitute in 2013. He did not manage to break through, however, making just four league appearances in five seasons amid constant loan spells at Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Hull and Brighton.

The forward eventually took a gamble and joined Greek outfit PAOK for £900,000 in search of regular football. There, he scored 18 goals in two seasons on his way to winning the Greek Super League and Greek Cup in 2018/19.

Do you think Chuba Akpom will thrive in the Eredivisie? Let us know in the comments section.

Akpom signed a three-year deal with Middlesbrough in September 2020 following a £2.8m move. He eventually grew into his own in the north-east after a mediocre first season in the Championship and a second season out on loan at PAOK, netting a staggering 28 league goals for Boro in 40 league appearances in 2022/23.

His impending move comes with a year left on his contract after the side triggered a one-year extension in January. Meanwhile, Ajax finished third in the Eredivisie last season.

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