Hugo Ekitike: Position, transfer fee, style of play, stats & more

Hugo Ekitike is placed among a number of centre forwards linked with a move to the Premier League in the upcoming summer transfer window.

A move to England almost seems inevitable for the Frenchman, with numerous top flight sides seemingly in the market for a dynamic centre forward.

We take a deep dive into Ekitike's profile and explore what he could bring to the Premier League.

Hugo Ekitike age, nationality & background

Born on 20th June 2002, Hugo Ekitike is 22 years od.

Ekitike was born in Reims, Marne, to a Cameroonian father and a French mother.

Hugo Ekitike transfer rumours and expected fee

Hugo Ekitike is reportedly attracting interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle and Arsenal ahead of the summer transfer window.

Both Liverpool and Arsenal are expected to delve into the market in search of a new centre forward, while Ruben Amorim will undoubtedly want to add some firepower to a lacklustre Man Utd attack.

If Alexander Isak is to leave Newcastle, don't be surprised to see the Magpies emerge as potential suitors for the Frenchman, too.

While it's currently unclear how much Eintracht Frankfurt will demand for Hugo Ekitike, a fee in the region of £60-70m has been floated. That said, if a bidding war is to commence then the Bundesliga outfit could receive a greater sum.

What to expect from Hugo Ekitike

Position

Hugo Ekitike operates as a striker in Dino Toppmoller's Eintracht Frankfurt side, though he is also comfortable in deeper positions when instructed to assist in the build up.

Height and build

Ekitike is 6ft 3ins and of a lean build.

Preferred foot

Ekitike is primarily right-footed, but is also a fine finisher on his weaker left foot.

Style of play

There has been an apparent rise in raw and powerful centre forwards in recent years, including the likes of Erling Haaland, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko.

While Ekitike by no means lacks an imposing presence, he possesses technical attributes that suggest he can become one of the most complete strikers in Europe.

Ekitike doesn't rely on one singular trait to form his game, proving effective when asked to carry out a range of different roles as a sole centre forward.

While he is proficient in occupying defenders by sitting on the last line of the opposition's defence, he is equally as impressive when dropping in to deeper areas to help construct an attack.

The Frenchman personifies composure in all areas of the pitch, possessing a real close control of the ball when faced one on one with a defender. This, combined with his productive use of body feints, makes him a nightmare to dispossess, proved by his high ranking in successful take-ons.

Of the top scorers in the Bundesliga, Ekitike is one of few who is underperforming his expected goals (xG).

While this may sound alarming, he remains the fifth highest scorer in the league, and the art of mastering his finishing in front of goal will likely prove an easier task than having to refine his all-round play, which is exceptional.

Stats

Metric	Total (Per 90)	Rank
Shots total	3.94	Top 4%
xG	0.67%	Top 9%
Goal-creating actions	0.59	Top 7%
Successful take-ons	1.95	Top 3%
Carries into the penalty area	1.54	Top 7%

(Source: FBref.com based on comparison to positional peers in Men's Big 5 Leagues in last 365 days).

Career so far

Previous clubs

Ekitike's career started at French outfit Reims, spending eight years in the youth setup and reserve side before being making the step up to senior football.

The Frenchman served loan spells at  Vejle Boldklub and Paris Saint-Germain, before signing for PSG on a permanent deal in 2023.

Unable to become a mainstay in the PSG starting XI, Ekitike made the loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt. The Bundesliga side then triggered the €16.5m buy-out clause which saw the Frenchman sign a deal until the end of the 2028/29 season.

International caps

Ekitike is yet to feature in France's senior squad, though has impressed at youth level, having represented both the U20s and U21s.

The Frenchman scored a hat-trick in France U21s 5-3 win over England U21s, seemingly alerting the interest of numerous English sides.

What could Hugo Ekitike bring to the Premier League?

It's clear that Hugo Ekitike could be the right fit for numerous Premier League sides, but it's Arsenal and Liverpool who appear the most appropriate destinations for the 22-year-old, providing a stable environment with a promise to compete for trophies.

From what we have seen from Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot, and how they have spoke about forward players, it's become pretty apparent what profile they are looking for in a number nine.

Dynamic and composed, with an exceedingly high ceiling, all of which apply to Ekitike.

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