Chuba Akpom chose a move to Ajax in 2023, but he also had an offer from Saudi Arabia in hand. The English striker was left dizzy by the amounts that were being offered to him.
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Chuba Akpom’s career took a dramatic turn in 2023 when he opted to join Ajax, despite receiving a jaw-dropping offer from Saudi Arabia an offer so lucrative that it nearly altered the trajectory of his football journey.
The 29-year-old striker had just wrapped up an extraordinary season with Middlesbrough in the English Championship, where he scored 28 goals in just 40 league matches. His performances didn't just catch the eye of European clubs, but also drew significant attention from the Middle East, where clubs were increasingly turning their focus to top talent from abroad.
Speaking on the TikTok channel of LavieCutz, a platform known for its casual interviews with footballers and influencers, Akpom revealed how close he came to accepting the Saudi proposal. “Before I signed with Ajax, I received an offer from Saudi Arabia,” he admitted, adding that the magnitude of the figures involved left him visibly shaken. “It wasn’t just numbers in an email it was real. When it’s actually in front of you, you feel it in your whole body.”
According to Akpom, the emotional and psychological toll of such a major decision was immense. “I barely slept for five nights,” he said. “There’s a big difference between knowing someone is interested and actually seeing the deal on paper. Everything inside you reacts your heart races, your mind starts going in a thousand directions. My girlfriend and I would be lying in bed, wide awake, just going over every possibility.”
The couple, Akpom explained, even began fantasizing about their future lifestyle with that kind of money. “We were in Disneyland when we got the full details,” he recalled. “And while everyone else was enjoying the rides and characters, we were thinking about houses, cars, and everything we could do with that money. It was like we already had it, even though we hadn’t signed anything yet. In your head, you're already spending it.”
Despite the allure of the Saudi offer, Akpom ultimately chose the path of footballing tradition and sporting challenge over financial gain. He signed a five-year contract with Ajax, one of Europe's most storied clubs, known for developing talent and competing regularly in UEFA competitions. “In the end, I went with my gut. I felt like Ajax was the right move for my career, and I didn't want to make a decision just for money,” he said.
Since arriving in Amsterdam, Akpom’s time at Ajax has been mixed. He made 68 appearances for the club, scoring 23 goals and contributing four assists. While these numbers are respectable, his role at Ajax was far from undisputed. The club's turbulent 2023–24 season, marked by coaching changes and inconsistency on the pitch, meant that Akpom didn’t always feature as a starter. In the most recent transfer window, Ajax opted to loan him out to Ligue 1 side Lille in search of more consistent playing time.
His half-season in France was viewed as a fresh opportunity to rediscover his top form in a different competitive environment. Reports from France suggest that he made a solid impression during his loan spell, even though the move wasn’t made permanent. Now back at Ajax, Akpom remains under contract with the Dutch giants until 2028, and the club must decide whether to reintegrate him into the first team or explore new transfer options.
Meanwhile, the interest from Saudi Arabia hasn’t gone away. With the Saudi Pro League continuing its aggressive recruitment strategy and the financial packages on offer still among the most attractive in world football, it's possible that Akpom could face similar temptations again in the future. But if his reflections are anything to go by, his decision in 2023 was deeply personal and rooted in more than just money.
“I chose what I felt was right for me as a footballer,” he concluded. “And no matter what happens next, I’ll always know I made that decision with my heart, not just my wallet.”
Updated: 12:10, 26 Jun 2025
