Liverpool have completed the signing of French striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth an initial £69 million, subject to international clearance.
The 23-year-old has agreed personal terms and passed his medical, and is set to link up with Liverpool’s pre-season tour in Asia later this week.
The full agreement could rise to £79 million, with £10 million in performance-related add-ons. Frankfurt accepted the offer earlier this week, fending off competition from Newcastle United, whose £70m bid had been rejected.
Ekitike’s arrival takes Liverpool’s summer spending past £250 million. The club have already signed Florian Wirtz in a deal that could break the British transfer record at £116m, while full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have joined for a combined £70m.
Ekitike was a standout performer for Frankfurt last season, scoring 15 goals in 31 starts and registering eight assists. He also led the Bundesliga for total shots with 117, as Frankfurt finished third in the table.
The striker joined Frankfurt from Paris St-Germain in february 2024 after a difficult spell in the French capital, and was signed permanently in the summer.
In a press release, Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche said:
“Hugo has developed tremendously in his one and a half years with us and has been a true asset to our team and the entire club both on and off the pitch. We are delighted that he can now take the next step – a step he has earned through his performances with us.”
Bundesliga expert Constantin Eckner writes that Ekitike’s move is another example of Frankfurt’s sharp recruitment policy paying off.
Though highly rated during his time at Reims, Ekitike’s move to PSG did not yield regular opportunities amid intense competition in attack. But Frankfurt gave him a fresh start, initially on loan in early 2024, before signing him permanently.
Under manager Dino Toppmoller, he featured both as a lone forward and in a two-man frontline. During the first half of last season, he formed a potent partnership with Omar Marmoush, before the latter’s £63m transfer to Manchester City in january led to a change in system. Ekitike then led the line with support from two attacking midfielders behind him.
Eckner notes that Ekitike is more than a traditional striker:
“Ekitike is not a forward who just lurks inside the box. When playing with Marmoush, both would frequently swap positions. He may not be the most explosive attacker, but he uses intelligent movement to beat defenders and excels in pressing systems, whether high up or from midfield.”
