Hugo Ekitike Explained

Hugo Ekitike
Full Name:Hugo Ekitike
Birth Date:20 June 2002
Birth Place:Reims, France
Height:1.90 m[1]
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Eintracht Frankfurt
Clubnumber:11
Youthyears1:2008–2013
Youthclubs1:Cormontreuil FC
Youthyears2:2013–2019
Youthclubs2:Reims
Years1:2019–2021
Clubs1:Reims B
Caps1:15
Goals1:6
Years2:2020–2023
Clubs2:Reims
Caps2:26
Goals2:10
Years3:2021
Clubs3:Vejle Boldklub (loan)
Caps3:11
Goals3:3
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Paris Saint-Germain (loan)
Caps4:25
Goals4:3
Years5:2023–2024
Clubs5:Paris Saint-Germain
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2024
Clubs6:Eintracht Frankfurt (loan)
Caps6:14
Goals6:4
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Eintracht Frankfurt
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2021–2022
Nationalteam1:France U20
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:21:00, 21 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:14:08, 25 June 2023 (UTC)

Hugo Ekitike (or Ekitiké; born 20 June 2002) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.

Early life

Hugo Ekitike[2] was born on 20 June 2002 in Reims, Marne,[3] to a French father and a Cameroonian mother.[4]

Club career

Reims

On 12 July 2020, Ekitike signed his first professional contract with Reims.[5] He debuted with the senior team in a 3–1 Ligue 1 loss to Lorient on 17 October 2020.[6] On 29 January 2021, Ekitike joined Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub on loan for the rest of the season.[7]

On 26 September 2021, Ekitike scored Reims' second and third goals in a 3–1 win against Nantes, having come on as a substitute.[8] In the January 2022 transfer window, Ekitike rejected a potential transfer to Newcastle United. Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot admitted that the club had received "very good offers" for Ekitike, but reiterated that "there is still a piece of history to write together".[9]

Paris Saint-Germain

On 16 July 2022, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) announced the signing of Ekitike on a season-long loan with an option-to-buy for a reported fee of €35 million, bonuses included.[10] According to several sources, the purchase option in the deal was made mandatory.[11]

Ekitike made his PSG debut as a substitute in a 5–0 league win away to Clermont on 6 August 2022.[12] On 1 October, he made his first start for the club in a 2–1 league victory over Nice at the Parc des Princes.[13] Ten days later, Ekitike made his UEFA Champions League debut, coming on as a late-match substitute in a 1–1 home draw against Benfica.[14] On 13 November, he scored his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain in a 5–0 home win over Auxerre.[15] He finished the season with four goals and four assists in thirty-two matches, winning his first Ligue 1 title.[16] In June 2023, his transfer to PSG became a permanent deal worth €28.5 million plus €6.5 million in bonuses.[17] [18] In September 2023, it was reported that he was excluded from the Champions League squad for the 2023–24 season.[19]

Eintracht Frankfurt

On 1 February 2024, Ekitike signed for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt on loan until the end of the season with a buy option.[20] He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat away to FC Köln two days later.[21] On 19 April, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 home victory over FC Augsburg.[22] On 26 April, the buy option in Ekitike's loan deal at Eintracht Frankfurt was activated, and he was transferred for a fee of €16.5 million.[23] He signed a deal until the end of the 2028–29 season.[24] The following day, Ekitike scored a goal in 2–1 defeat away to Bayern Munich, a right-footed strike from outside the box into the bottom-right corner of the net.[25]

International career

Ekitike was eligible to play for France because of his birth and through his father and for Cameroon through his mother. He is a youth international for France, having represented the France U20s.[26]

Career statistics

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reims B2019–20Championnat National 2125125
2020–21Championnat National 22121
2021–22Championnat National 21010
Total156156
Reims2020–21Ligue 1200000020
2021–22Ligue 12410212611
Total261021002811
Vejle Boldklub (loan)2020–21Danish Superliga11300113
Paris Saint-Germain (loan)2022–23Ligue 1253314000324
Paris Saint-Germain2023–24Ligue 11010
Total263314000334
Eintracht Frankfurt (loan)2023–24Bundesliga14420164
Eintracht Frankfurt2024–25Bundesliga00110011
Total1441120175
Career total922663600010429

Honours

Paris Saint-Germain

2022–23,[27] 2023–24[28]

France U20

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hugo Ekitiké . Bundesliga . 27 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Heking . Verif.com . 5 March 2023 . fr.
    Web site: Hugo Ekitike . Verif.com . 5 March 2023 . fr.
  3. News: Hugo Ekitike . L'Équipe . Paris . 7 August 2022 . fr.
  4. https://www.ghgossip.com/hugo-ekitike-parents-meet-hugo-ekitikes-parents/
  5. Web site: Premier contrat pro pour Hugo Ekitike ! | Stade de Reims . stade-de-reims.com.
  6. Web site: Reims vs. Lorient – 17 October 2020 – Soccerway . Soccerway.
  7. https://vejle-boldklub.dk/vejle-boldklub-forstaerker-sig-med-ligue-1-talent/ Vejle Boldklub forstærker sig med Ligue 1-talent
  8. Web site: Oludare . Shina . Simon scores as Nantes lose to Ekitike's Reims . Goal (website) . 27 September 2021 . 26 September 2021.
  9. Web site: 31 January 2022 . Hugo Ekitike: Newcastle move for Reims forward off . Sky Sports . 31 January 2022.
  10. Web site: Hugo Ekitiké signs with Paris Saint-Germain . Paris Saint-Germain F.C. . 16 July 2022. 16 July 2022.
  11. Web site: Aouna . Santi . 16 July 2022 . PSG : option d'achat obligatoire pour Hugo Ekitike . 17 July 2022 . Foot Mercato . fr.
  12. Web site: 6 August 2022 . Debut for Ekitiké . 7 August 2022 . Paris Saint-Germain F.C..
  13. Web site: 1 October 2022 . Ligue 1 : première titularisation pour Ekitike avec le PSG, Mbappé remplaçant contre Nice . 11 October 2022 . Le Figaro . fr.
  14. Web site: 12 October 2022 . C1 - PSG Benfica : Les impressions d'Ekitike après le match . 12 October 2022 . Planète PSG . fr.
  15. Web site: Hunsley . James . 13 November 2022 . PSG coasting to another Ligue 1 title! Mbappe among scorers but Mendes shines brightest as champions pulverise Auxerre .
  16. Web site: Paristeam . 2023-06-20 . PSG : Hugo Ekitike, un contrat de 4 ans . 2023-07-22 . Paristeam . fr-FR.
  17. Web site: Mercato : le PSG dans l'obligation d'acheter Ekitike, si... . Alexandre . Chochois . fr . 10 July 2023 . 21 February 2023.
  18. Web site: Aouna . Santi . 16 July 2022 . PSG : option d'achat obligatoire pour Hugo Ekitike . 17 July 2022 . . fr.
  19. News: Hawkins . Fabrice . PSG: Ekitike et Verratti officiellement écartés de la liste A de la Ligue des champions, Ethan Mbappé et Housni dans la liste B . RMC Sport . fr . 6 September 2023 .
  20. Web site: Eintracht Frankfurt sign Hugo Ekitiké . 2024-02-01 . Eintracht Frankfurt . en.
  21. Web site: 3 February 2024 . FC Cologne vs. Eintracht Frankfurt . 3 February 2024 . Soccerway.
  22. News: PSG loanee Ekitiké scores winner as Eintracht Frankfurt beats Augsburg . 2024-04-28 . Connecticut Post . en.
  23. https://apnews.com/article/eintracht-frankfurt-hugo-ekitike-psg-21ef8ba310c6f84e5405b3cc49f59ee4 Eintracht Frankfurt uses option to buy PSG striker Hugo Ekitiké following loan move
  24. Web site: Francfort lève l'option d'achat pour Hugo Ekitike (PSG) . 2024-04-28 . L'Équipe . fr.
  25. Web site: 2024-04-27 . Bayern 2-1 Eintracht Fr.: results, summary and goals . 2024-04-28 . AS.com . en.
  26. Web site: Foot : Ekitike et Lukeba promus chez les Espoirs . 9 November 2021.
  27. Web site: 2023-05-27 . Paris Saint-Germain crowned French champions for the 11th time . 2023-07-01 . EN.PSG.FR . en.
  28. Web site: 28 April 2024 . Paris Saint-Germain win their 12th Ligue 1 title! . 28 April 2024 . Paris Saint-Germain F.C..