After being heavily linked with the Adler in the summer as a replacement for Randal Kolo Muani, Eintracht Frankfurt have finally succeeded in bringing striker Hugo Ekitiké to the Deutsche Bank Park on an initial loan on transfer deadline day with an option to buy. Here we take a closer look at the latest acquisition to the Frankfurt attacking line……
Born in Reims, he began playing for local club Cormontreuil FC as a six-year-old before progressing to Reims aged eleven. He progressed through all the club’s age brackets before he signed professional terms with his home town club in the summer of 2020. His first-team debut followed in October, but after just two appearances for Les rouges et blancs he was sent out on loan to Danish side Vejle for the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign. After three goals in eleven matches in the Superliga he returned to France.
The 2021/22 season saw him gain more game time at Reims and he finished as the club’s top scorer with ten goals in 24 appearances. The January transfer window in 2022 saw the player turn down a big money move to Premier League side Newcastle United with Ekitiké holding out for a move to Paris St. germain, which did materialise eventually in the summer with the Parisians signing him on an initial loan which later turned into a €28.5 million permanent transfer.
He made 25 Ligue 1 appearances last season scoring three goals as PSG won the French title, but this season he has largely been frozen out with just one nine-minute substitute appearance to his name. With Kylian Mbappé, Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembelé, Goncalo Ramos and Lee-Kang In ahead of him in the pecking order, it has been decided a loan with an option of a permanent deal is best all round.
His failure to make the grade at PSG should not be held against him as plenty of quality players before him have moved on and found great success (Moussa Diaby and Christopher Nkunku to name just two). Ekitiké can be compared to Alexander Isak in many ways with the 21-year-old possessing speed, agility and a good finish. He is however very rusty having not had any football of note in the whole first half of this season.
Given time though, Eintracht Frankfurt could have a real gem on their hands (the scouting of strikers at the club is famously first-class). It is believed the Adler may have to pay in the region of €30 million for the loan and the eventual transfer once all bonuses and conditions are met. He will wear the number 11 shirt for the club.
What they’re saying:
Markus Krösche (sporting director): “Hugo is a young player who has already proven his great potential. We were already convinced of him in the summer and didn’t discard the idea. We are happy that the transfer worked given our economic conditions. Of course we will give him the time he needs to arrive.”
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