Liverpool have decided to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt at a transfer fee of £79 million. The French striker, who had a good 2024/25 season in the Bundesliga, has thus bolstered the Reds further after they had signed Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool have not yet been able to lure Alexander Isak away from Newcastle United. Still, Ekitike’s signing probably makes them the favourite to win the Premier League title next season.
Hugo Ekitike: Third Most Expensive Signing in Liverpool’s History
Ekitike has now become the third most expensive signing in the club’s history. Wirtz remains the most expensive signing at a startling £116 million, with Darwin Nunez being the second with a price of £85 million.
There are the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Dominik Szoboszlai in the list of the most expensive acquisitions for Liverpool. Therefore, it can be seen that four of the six most expensive signings in the club’s history were made during Jurgen Klopp’s tenure as their manager.
Three of those signings have made their mark successfully, with Alisson and Van Dijk staking claim to be among the best players in the club’s history.
Szoboszlai has spent two successful seasons at the club already. Nunez can not really be called a success for the Reds, but he has still won a Premier League title and has scored 40 goals in 143 matches for the club.
The past decade or so has been very successful for the Reds overall, and it is not a mere coincidence that the most valuable signings have happened during that period of time. Ekitike has thus become a member of a privileged group of players.
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Liverpool Ruthless Under Arne Slot
The Reds won the league title in a clinical manner last season under Slot in the latter’s first season in England as a manager. The Reds had a lead of 10 points over second-placed Arsenal by the end of the season.
The standards at the club have been set quite high, and therefore, Ekitike should find himself in a very competitive environment.
Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 matches last season and was selected in the team of the season in Germany. He therefore has the pedigree to succeed in England.
He now has the opportunity to play in a competitive environment in England, but will have to contend with the likes of Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Nunez for a place in the starting XI.
However, Diaz and Gakpo are not strikers, giving Ekitike the edge as a No. 9.
It remains to be seen what Liverpool do with Nunez next season. Diogo Jota’s demise has created a void in their attack and hence, they might decide against selling Nunez.
Either way, Ekitike should be a definite starter for the English champions next season. With Wirtz behind him, he should have no dearth of supply inside the opposition penalty box. It now remains to be seen as to how good an use he is able to make of the balls delivered to him.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Propaganda Photo
Recording Date: 24.07.2025