Former Arsenal striker Akpom returns to Brighton with Ajax in the Europa League tonight

FORMER Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom will return to the American Express Community Stadium tonight where he will face his previous club Brighton & Hove in the Europa League in a showdown with his current employers Ajax of Amsterdam.

Akpom joined Brighton & Hove on loan from Arsenal for the second half of the 2016/17 season in search of first team football.  He later left for Middlesboro and from there joined Ajax and today returns 2,379 days after his last game for the Seagulls on what is  matchday three of the Europa League.

Back in 2017, Akpom, a Hale End Academy graduate helped Brighton secure promotion to the Premier League, making 10 appearances in the Championship but only one as a starter. His last game for the Seagulls came against Norwich City on April 21, 2017, after which he left as they secured promotion.

Although Brighton fans believe Akpom struggled to live up to his billing as one of the top young talents in English football during his time at the Amex Stadium, he showed his qualities in his final season as a Middlesbrough player. Akpom, 28, won the Championship Golden Boot with 28 goals in 38 matches and was named the inaugural winner of the PFA Championship Players' Player of the Year Award, which earned him a move to Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam.

Ajax have drawn twice in this season's Europa League group stage, with Akpom given minutes from the bench in both games. He will be hoping for a start tonight or at least get some decent playing time.