Ludovic Ajorque
{{short description|French footballer (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ludovic Ajorque
| image = Ajorque asse sb 2425.png
| caption = Ajorque with Brest in 2025
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|2|25}}
| birth_place = Saint-Denis, Réunion, France
| position = Striker
| currentclub = Brest
(on loan from Mainz 05)
| clubnumber = 19
| youthyears1 = 2011
| youthclubs1 = AS Excelsior
| youthyears2 = 2012–2014
| youthclubs2 = Angers
| years1 = 2012–2016
| clubs1 = Angers
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2012–2016
| clubs2 = Angers II
| caps2 = 37
| goals2 = 14
| years3 = 2014–2015
| clubs3 = → Poiré-sur-Vie (loan)
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2014–2015
| clubs4 = → Poiré-sur-Vie II (loan)
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2015–2016
| clubs5 = → Luçon (loan)
| caps5 = 32
| goals5 = 9
| years6 = 2016–2018
| clubs6 = Clermont
| caps6 = 65
| goals6 = 19
| years7 = 2017
| clubs7 = Clermont II
| caps7 = 2
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2018–2023
| clubs8 = Strasbourg
| caps8 = 135
| goals8 = 46
| years9 = 2023–
| clubs9 = Mainz 05
| caps9 = 43
| goals9 = 8
| years10 = 2024–
| clubs10 = → Brest (loan)
| caps10 = 31
| goals10 = 13
| club-update = 25 May 2025
}}
Ludovic Ajorque (born 25 February 1994) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for {{French football updater|Brest}} club Brest, on loan from Bundesliga club Mainz 05.
Developed at Angers, where he made only one Coupe de la Ligue appearance, he played for two years with Clermont in Ligue 2 before a €1.5 million move to Ligue 1 team Strasbourg in 2018. He played 149 times for Strasbourg, scoring 50 goals and winning the Coupe de la Ligue in 2019.
Club career
=Early career=
Ajorque began his career at AS Excelsior on his native island before moving to Angers SCO, where he played mainly for the reserve team in the fifth tier. His sole game for Angers was on 12 August 2014 in the first round of the Coupe de la Ligue, playing the first 57 minutes of a 2–1 home win over Nîmes.{{cite news |last1=Raguin |first1=Antoine |title=Ligue 1. Ludovic Ajorque : " Sans Angers, je serais peut-être aujourd'hui à la Réunion "|trans-title=:Ligue 1. Ludovic Ajorque: "Without Angers, I would probably be in Réunion today"|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/football/angers-sco/ligue-1-ludovic-ajorque-sans-angers-je-serais-peut-etre-aujourd-hui-la-reunion-6214933 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=Ouest-France |date=9 February 2019 |language=French}}
In July 2016, following a season on loan at Luçon in the Championnat National, Ajorque transferred to Ligue 2 club Clermont on a three-year deal.{{cite news |title=Transfert : Ludovic Ajorque (Angers) à Clermont|trans-title=Transfer: Ludovic Ajorque (Angers) to Clermont|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transfert-ludovic-ajorque-angers-a-clermont/710108 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=L'Équipe |date=26 July 2016 |language=French}} After 14 goals in 37 games in 2017–18, he signed a four-year deal at Strasbourg in Ligue 1.{{cite news |title=Football : le Réunionnais Ludovic Ajorque signe à Strasbourg|trans-title=Football: Réunion's Ludovic Ajorque signs for Strasbourg|url=https://www.linfo.re/la-reunion/societe/football-le-reunionnais-ludovic-ajorque-signe-a-strasbourg |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=L'Info |date=5 June 2018 |language=French}} The transfer fee was €1.5 million.{{cite news |title=Ligue 1: Strasbourg et Ajorque détruisent Monaco, qui replonge en enfer|trans-title=Ligue 1: Strasbourg and Ajorque destroy Monaco, who fall back into Hell|url=https://www.la-croix.com/Sport/Ligue-1-Strasbourg-Ajorque-detruisent-Monaco-replonge-enfer-2019-01-19-1300996612 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=La Croix |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=19 January 2019 |language=French}}
=Strasbourg=
Ajorque made his top-flight debut on 12 August 2018, starting as the season began with a 2–0 win at Bordeaux, and scored the first of his nine goals on 1 September to open a 3–2 home loss to Nantes.{{cite news |last1=Nus |first1=Pierre |last2=Dreosto |first2=Luc |title=LIGUE 1 : Le Racing Club de Strasbourg s'incline 3 buts à 2 face à Nantes|trans-title=LIGUE 2: Racing Club de Strasbourg fall 3 goals to 2 against Nantes |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/football/ligue-1-racing-club-de-strasbourg-fc-nantes-a-20h-1535814711 |access-date=1 May 2022 |publisher=France Bleu |date=1 September 2018 |language=French}} The following 19 January, he scored twice in a 5–1 win at Monaco,{{cite news |last1=Rain |first1=Arthur |title=Ligue 1, 21e journée: Strasbourg va humilier Monaco avec un doublé de Ludovic Ajorque (1-5)|trans-title=Ligue 1, 21st matchday: Strasbourg go and humiliate Monaco with a brace from Ludovic Ajorque (1-5) |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/sport/football/2431147-20190119-ligue-1-21e-journee-strasbourg-va-humilier-monaco-avec-un-double-de-ludovic-ajorque-1-5 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=20 minutes |date=19 January 2019 |language=French}} and added another brace on 9 March as the team came from behind to draw with Lyon at the Stade de la Meinau.{{cite news |title=Ligue 1. Lyon mis en échec par Strasbourg|trans-title=Ligue 1. Lyon put in check by Strasbourg|url=https://www.letelegramme.fr/football/ligue-1-lyon-mis-en-echec-par-strasbourg-09-03-2019-12227476.php |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=Le Télégramme |date=9 March 2019 |language=French}}
In the 2018–19 Coupe de la Ligue, Ajorque played four games and scored twice as the Alsatians won the trophy for the first time in 14 years. His penalty opened a 2–1 win at Lyon in the quarter-finals on 8 January, and he equalised in a 3–2 home win over Bordeaux three weeks later.{{cite news |last1=Lejolivet |first1=Pierre |title=Strasbourg croque Bordeaux et rejoint Guingamp en finale de la Coupe de la Ligue|trans-title=Strasbourg crack Bordeaux and join Guingamp in the Coupe de la Ligue final|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/live/coupe-de-la-ligue/2018/1041267/strasbourg-bordeaux |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=Le Figaro |date=30 January 2019 |language=French}} With this result, the team entered the UEFA Europa League, where he scored in each leg of a 4–3 aggregate win over Maccabi Haifa.{{cite news |title=Strasbourg squeak past Maccabi Haïfa; Lokomotiv Plovdiv next |url=https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2019/strasbourg-squeak-past-maccabi-haifa-lokomotiv-plovdiv-next/ |access-date=1 May 2022 |publisher=Get Football News France |date=2 August 2019}}
In June 2020, Ajorque extended his contract until 2024.{{cite news |title=Ligue 1 : Ludovic Ajorque prolonge de deux ans avec Strasbourg|trans-title=Ligue 1: Ludovic Ajorque extends for two years with Strasbourg|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Ligue-1-ludovic-ajorque-prolonge-de-deux-ans-avec-strasbourg/1148407 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=L'Équipe |date=30 June 2020 |language=French}} In the ensuing season, in which his team finished two points above the relegation play-offs, he scored 16 goals in 35 games; this put him joint fourth behind Kylian Mbappé, Wissam Ben Yedder and Memphis Depay.{{cite news |title=Ligue 1 : Le classement final des buteurs de Ligue 1, le triplé pour Kylian Mbappé ! |trans-title=Ligue 1: Final goalscorers ranking in Ligue 1, hat-trick for Kylian Mbappé!|url=https://madeinfoot.ouest-france.fr/infos/article-ligue-1-le-classement-final-des-buteurs-de-ligue-1-le-triple-pour-kylian-mbappe-345171.html |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=Ouest-France |date=25 May 2021 |language=French}} In 2021–22, his 12 goals put him in 10th.{{cite news |title=Mbappé termina como máximo goleador de la Ligue 1 con 28 goles|trans-title=Mbappé finishes as Ligue 1 top scorer with 28 goals |url=https://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/ligue-1/kylian-mbappe-termino-lider-de-goleo-ligue-1 |access-date=22 May 2022 |publisher=Medio Tiempo |date=22 May 2022 |language=Spanish}} On 7 November, he was sent off for the first time in his career for a foul on Fábio in a 2–2 draw at Nantes.{{cite news |last1=Aubry |first1=Pierre-Alexandre |title=FC Nantes - RC Strasbourg : Pourquoi le rouge d'Ajorque a fait du mal... aux Nantais|trans-title=FC Nantes - RC Strasbourg: Why Ajorque's red card was bad for... Nantes|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/sport/3166955-20211107-fc-nantes-rc-strasbourg-pourquoi-rouge-ajorque-fait-mal-nantais |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=20 minutes |date=7 November 2021 |language=French}}
In the first half of the 2022–23 Ligue 1 season, Ajorque netted just once in 13 games.{{cite news |last1=Locquet |first1=Aurélie |title=Ligue 1 : Ludovic Ajorque quitte Strasbourg pour Mayence|trans-title=Ligue 1: Ludovic Ajorque leaves Strasbourg for Mainz |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/football/ligue-1-ludovic-ajorque-quitte-strasbourg-pour-mayence-6101237 |access-date=5 May 2024 |publisher=France Bleu |date=24 January 2023 |language=French}}
=Mainz 05=
On 24 January 2023, Ajorque signed for Bundesliga club Mainz 05 for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite news |title=Mercato : Ajorque quitte Strasbourg pour Mayence |trans-title=Transfer market: Ajorque leaves Strasbourg for Mainz|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/transferts/mercato-ajorque-quitte-strasbourg-pour-mayence-20230124 |access-date=5 May 2024 |work=Le Figaro |date=24 January 2023 |language=French}} He made his debut the following day, playing the last ten minutes of a 2–1 home loss to Borussia Dortmund as a substitute for Karim Onisiwo, and scored his first goal on 24 February in a 4–0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Mewa Arena.{{cite news |title=Ludovic Ajorque opens Mainz account in routine Borussia Mönchengladbach win |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/mainz-borussia-monchengladbach-live-team-news-match-stats-thuram-omlin-ajorque-22739 |access-date=5 May 2024 |publisher=Bundesliga |date=24 February 2023}} He totalled six goals in 17 games as his team finished 9th; this included an equaliser in a 3–1 comeback win against eventual champions FC Bayern Munich on 22 April.{{cite news |last1=Olives-Berthet |first1=Cyril |title=Transféré cet hiver de Strasbourg à Mayence, Ludovic Ajorque n'est pas dépaysé|trans-title=Transferred this winter from Strasbourg to Mainz, Ludovic Ajorque is not disorientated|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Transfere-cet-hiver-de-strasbourg-a-mayence-ludovic-ajorque-n-est-pas-depayse/1394043 |access-date=5 May 2024 |work=L'Équipe |date=29 April 2023 |language=French}}
==Loan to Brest==
On 25 July 2024, Ajorque moved to Brest in Ligue 1 on loan with an option to buy.{{cite web|publisher=Mainz 05|url=https://www.mainz05.de/news/ajorque-zu-stade-brest|title=AJORQUE ZU STADE BREST|trans-title=AJORQUE TO STADE BREST|date=25 July 2024|access-date=25 July 2024|language=de}}
International career
Born in Réunion, Ajorque is of Malagasy descent and was approached to join the Madagascar national team in March 2018.{{cite web|url=https://sports.orange.fr/football/autres/article/madagascar-ronny-rodelin-caen-bientot-avec-les-barea-CNT0000010UlxB.html|title=Madagascar : Ronny Rodelin (Caen) bientôt avec les Barea ?|date=30 March 2018|website=sports.orange.fr}} He has said he wants to concentrate on club football.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48171555|title=2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Madagascar coach Dupuis to stick with squad|date=5 May 2019|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=28 August 2019|first=Oluwashina|last=Okeleji}}
Career statistics
{{Updated|match played 27 April 2025}}{{soccerway|ludovic-ajorque/264466|access-date=28 October 2016}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;font-size:100%;"
|+ Appearances by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de France, DFB-Pokal}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de la Ligue}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Angers II
|7 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan=2|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 1 | ||||
| 2013–14
|CFA 2 |22 | 10 | colspan="2"|— | colspan=2|— | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 10 | ||||
| 2014–15
|CFA 2 |8 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan=2|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 3 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!37 | 14||colspan="2"|—||colspan=2|—||colspan="2"|—||37 | 14 | ||||||||
| Angers
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| Poiré-sur-Vie (loan)
|15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 2 | |||
| Poiré-sur-Vie II (loan)
|CFA 2 |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan=2|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Luçon (loan)
|National |32 | 9 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 9 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Clermont
|Ligue 2 |28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 6 | ||
| 2017–18
|Ligue 2 |37 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 14 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!65 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2" |— | 70 | 20 | ||
| Clermont II
|CFA 2 |2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan=2|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan="6"|Strasbourg
|25 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 11 | ||
| 2019–20
|Ligue 1 |26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 2 | 33 | 10 | |
| 2020–21
|Ligue 1 |35 | 16 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 16 | |||
| 2021–22
|Ligue 1 |36 | 12 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 12 | |||
| 2022–23
|Ligue 1 |13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!135 | 46 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 149 | 50 | |
| rowspan="3"|Mainz 05
|17 | 6 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 6 | |||
| 2023–24
|Bundesliga |26 | 2 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 3 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!43 | 8 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 46 | 9 | |||
| Brest (loan)
|Ligue 1 |28 | 12 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 8{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 40 | 13 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!358 | 111 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 394 | 118 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.mainz05.de/profis/team/mannschaft/angriff/ludovic-ajorque/ Profile] at the 1. FSV Mainz 05 website {{in lang|de}}
- {{Sports links}}
{{Stade Brestois 29 squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajorque, Ludovic}}
Category:Sportspeople from Saint-Denis, Réunion
Category:Men's footballers from Réunion
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:French men's footballers
Category:French sportspeople of Malagasy descent
Category:Championnat National players
Category:Championnat National 3 players
Category:Vendée Poiré-sur-Vie Football players
Category:Clermont Foot players
Category:RC Strasbourg Alsace players
Category:1. FSV Mainz 05 players
Category:Stade Brestois 29 players
Category:French expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany