π§ Early Development & Rise at Reims
- Born on 20 Juneβ―2002 in Reims, France, to a Cameroonian father and French mother. He started football at Cormontreuil FC and later joined Stade de Reimsβ academy in 2013 (Wikipedia).
- Progressed rapidly: scored 6 goals in 15 appearances for Reims B and made senior debut in October 2020 (Wikipedia, Wikipedia).
- Loaned to Vejle Boldklub in Denmark in early 2021, where he scored 3 goals in 11 matches (Wikipedia).
π Breakthrough at Reims & Move to PSG
- Returned to Reims for the 2021/22 season and netted around 10 league goals, drawing interest from clubs including Newcastle and PSG (Wikipedia).
- Loaned to Paris Saint-Germain in summer 2022, with the deal including a mandatory purchase clause. He won Ligue 1 titles and appeared in UEFA Champions League action (Wikipedia).
- PSG made the move permanent in 2023, but Ekitike struggled for game timeβmaking just 1 appearance after the permanent switch (Wikipedia).
π Revival at Eintracht Frankfurt
- Loaned to Eintracht Frankfurt in February 2024; the move was made permanent in April 2024.
- In the 2024β25 season, he scored 15 goals in 33 Bundesliga games, earning a World Young Player of the Season inclusion in Bundesliga Team of the Season. Frankfurt qualified for the Champions League (Wikipedia).
β½ Playing Style & Strengths
- At 1.90β―m tall, Ekitike combines physical presence with pace. Observers liken his style to a blend of MbappΓ© and Neymar, praising his acceleration and grace (This Is Anfield).
- Known for effective link-up play, dropping deep to link the midfield and attack; high finishing qualityβoften outperforming expected goals (xG) in previous seasons (World Football Index).
- Criticisms include occasional inconsistency: his dribbling can be unrefined, and pressing metrics are average in high-intensity systems (World Football Index).
π° Transfer Interest & Move to Liverpool
- By mid-2025, clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool were all linked to Ekitike. Reports placed his estimated transfer value around Β£80β100β―million (β¬85β100m) (Football Transfers).
- In July 2025, Liverpool agreed a deal worth Β£79β―million (β¬91m), including add-ons. Ekitike underwent a medical and was expected to join the squad on their pre-season tour in Asia (Sky Sports).
π Career Snapshot
| Period | Club | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 2013β2020 | Reims Academy | Youth standout; pro contract in 2020 |
| 2020β2023 | Reims / Vejle (loan) | Broke into first team; strong Ligueβ―1 performance |
| 2022β2023 | PSG (loan & permanent) | Won Ligueβ―1 titles; struggled for playing time |
| 2024β2025 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 15 goals; Bundesliga Team of the Season selection |
| July 2025 | Liverpool | Β£79m transfer; set to join preβseason tour |
β Why the Hype?
- A proven goalscorer in Germany who impressed with consistency after a tough spell at PSG.
- Offers a different dimension upfront: height, speed, and dropβdeep movement.
- Seen as a longβterm investment likely to adapt well to Premier League demands (This Is Anfield, Wikipedia, TEAMtalk, Sky Sports).
Let me know if youβd like a deeper dive into his stats, playing videos, or potential at Liverpool!
