Chuba Akpom to Return to Ajax After Lille Loan Spell

Chuba Akpom's loan deal with Lille ends this summer, and he'll return to Ajax, while Mitchel Bakker heads back to Atalanta.

Chuba Akpom's loan spell at Lille will conclude this summer, and the English striker will return to Ajax. Akpom initially started the season as Ajax's third striker behind Brian Brobbey and Wout Weghorst before joining Lille on loan in January. Lille, currently fifth in Ligue 1, announced Akpom's impending departure, with the striker set to rejoin Ajax in Amsterdam.

🚨👋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | These players are leaving LOSC Lille and will be free agents this summer...

• Remy Cabella (35)
• Jonathan David (35)
• Angel Gomes (24)
• Vito Mannone (37)
• Samuel Umtiti (31)
• Mitchel Bakker (24)
• Chuba Akpom (29) pic.twitter.com/MnWnrtdfcc

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 18, 2025

Lille announced the departures of Chuba Akpom and Mitchel Bakker, with Akpom set to return to Ajax and Bakker to Atalanta. The club praised both players, stating, “Mission accomplished for Mitchel Bakker and Chuba Akpom. On loan from Atalanta and Ajax Amsterdam, respectively, Mitchel Bakker and Chuba Akpom have brought their professionalism and experience to the table as valuable building blocks for this season.”

Akpom's versatility and ability to perform at the highest level were notable during his time at Lille, where he played 35 games and scored four goals. Meanwhile, another player who joined at the end of the winter transfer window made an impact, appearing 14 times and scoring three valuable goals.

Akpom, a product of Arsenal's youth academy, joined Ajax in the summer of 2023 after a successful stint with Middlesbrough, where he scored 28 goals in 40 Championship matches. Since joining Ajax, the 29-year-old has scored 22 goals in 63 games across all competitions.