Player Profile: Hugo Ekitike

Lets take a look at one of our striker targets....

Good Morning Everyone,

As promised in the Live Blog comments yesterday, see below player profile on Hugo Ekitike!

Just a reminder with these, I generally look at the positives and advantages of a player whilst detailing a small section of their weaknesses.

Hugo Ekitike

Player profile;

Age: 22

Nationality: French (Uncapped)

Position: Striker (Right-footed)

Height: 6ft 3in

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👤 Background and Personal Life

• Born to a Cameroonian father and a French mother, Ekitike grew up in Reims, France.

• He began playing football at a young age and progressed through the youth systems of local clubs.

• Despite eligibility to represent Cameroon internationally, he has chosen to play for France at the youth level.

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🏟️ Career Path

Youth and Early Career

• Ekitike began his football journey at Cormontreuil FC before joining the youth academy of Stade de Reims in 2013.

• He signed his first professional contract with Reims in July 2020 and made his Ligue 1 debut in October 2020.

• In January 2021, he was loaned to Danish club Vejle Boldklub, where he scored 3 goals in 11 appearances.

Stade de Reims

• Returning to Reims for the 2021–22 season, Ekitike made a significant impact by scoring 10 goals in 24 Ligue 1 matches.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)

• In July 2022, Ekitike joined PSG on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

• He made 25 league appearances during the 2022–23 season mostly as a substitute, scoring 3 goals, and contributed to PSG’s Ligue 1 title win.

• The move was made permanent in June 2023 for €28.5 million plus bonuses.

Eintracht Frankfurt

• In February 2024, Ekitike was loaned to Eintracht Frankfurt, where he quickly became a key player.

• He scored 4 goals in 14 Bundesliga matches during his loan spell.

• Frankfurt exercised the buy option in April 2024, signing him for €16.5 million on a contract until 2029.

• In the 2024–25 season, Ekitike scored 15 goals in 30 Bundesliga appearances and added 4 goals in 12 Europa League matches.

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🌍 International Career

• Ekitike has represented France at various youth levels, including the U20 and U21 teams.

• He was part of the France U20 squad that won the Maurice Revello Tournament in 2022.

• As of March 2025, he has scored 5 goals in 5 appearances for the France U21 team.

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Style of play;

Ekitike is a versatile and technically gifted forward known for his ability to operate both inside the box and in wider areas. He is a dangerous dribbler with an explosive burst of speed and good off-the-ball movement, often making intelligent runs behind defensive lines. Ekitike is also a willing presser and can be a key part of a high-pressing system.

Here are some of his stats to help understand his style better.

Here's a more detailed look at his style of play:

Strengths:

• Versatility:

  Ekitike can play as a center-forward, a winger, or even drop deep to link up play.

• Technique:

  He possesses excellent dribbling skills, a good shot with both feet, and a knack for being clinical with limited opportunities.

• Off-the-ball movement:

  Ekitike is known for his intelligent runs, particularly in the inside channels, which helps him exploit spaces in the opposition's defense.

• Explosive speed:

  He has an explosive burst over the first few meters, allowing him to evade defenders in tight spaces.

• Will power:

  He is a willing presser and can contribute defensively, particularly in a high-pressing system.

Areas for Development:

• Finishing:

  While he has a good shot accuracy, his goal conversion rate suggests room for improvement, especially considering his xG per shot. But this is something that generically comes with age.

• Aerial ability:

  Ekitike's lack of aerial prowess could be a weakness in certain situations.

A couple of clips below that are worth watching;

Verdict;

I would be happy but not completely sold, especially if he was the only centre forward we signed, he is a very similar profile to Jackson who is a bit more developed and more clinical.

He would certainly help us press better and be more of a box presence than Jackson, he is better in the air but still not accomplished, but he is young. He will be an elite striker at some point in my opinion.

IF it was Delap and Ekitike I would be fairly happy, but my preference is still Osimhen and Delap for what its worth.

Thanks for reading!

Luke Rushbrook