How has ex-Middlesbrough star Chuba Akpom been getting on at Ajax recently? | OneFootball

The 2022/23 Championship top scorer Chuba Akpom left Middlesbrough in the summer, earning a big move to Dutch and European giants, Ajax.

It was an incredible season for the ex-Arsenal man as he bagged 28 goals in 38 Championship appearances, just a season after being deemed surplus to requirements at the Riverside Stadium and being shipped out on loan to Greek Super League outfit PAOK.

The striker actually missed seven Championship games on the bounce towards the start of the season, and it seemed like there was no future for him at the club before Michael Carrick took over.

After scoring 29 games in all competitions, Akpom attracted the interest of Dutch giants Ajax and signed a five-year deal with the club in August for a reported fee of £10.5 million, which could rise to over £12million, according to ITV.

Chuba Akpom's form at Ajax

It's fair to say the Dutch giants had an absolutely dreadful start to the season by their high standards. The club won their first game of the season 4-1 against Heracles, before only registering one more win until the start of November. This poor run of results included an embarrassing 4-0 home defeat to bitter rivals Feyenoord and the side from Amsterdam looked set to be in a relegation battle.

They didn't fare any better in the Europa League either, and have failed to win any of their five group games in European competitions so far. Akpom couldn't have picked a worse time to join Ajax but things have improved in recent weeks.

Since losing 5-2 to PSV Eindhoven at the end of October, Ajax are unbeaten in the Eredivisie, winning five of the six matches they've played and have rocketed up the table to fifth place.

Ajax's form has coincided with Akpom finding his shooting boots. He failed to score until the 2nd of November, in what was his ninth appearance for the club.

However, he went on to score in four consecutive games to take his tally to six goals in total in the Eredivisie. Despite scoring regularly in recent times, the attacker has started just two league games this season, and is yet to make a start in the Europa League.

This is obviously disappointing for Akpom, but he's still the club's second top goalscorer with six goals, three behind forward Brian Brobbey, who is keeping the former Boro man out of the team at the moment.

The rest of the season for Chuba Akpom

Now Ajax have turned their fortunes around, there should be more opportunities for Akpom. He'll have a hard time trying to oust Brobbey for a starting berth but he can still play a big role from the bench.

If Akpom continues to score goals from the bench, Ajax manager John van't Schip may have no option but to accommodate the ex-Boro man somewhere in his starting XI.

After a rocky start, the attacker has finally found his feet in the Eredivisie and will be looking to break into double figures for the season as soon as possible.