Hugo Ekitike’s Liverpool Leap: From France’s Setbacks to Premier League Sparks
4 octobre 2025
The Turning Point: Reims, Failure, and the Making of a Prodigy
The French forward Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool’s new attacker, has spoken candidly about the hardest moments of his football life since childhood and how those moments became the launchpad to the sport’s summit.
At 23, he arrived at Liverpool last summer from Eintracht Frankfurt for a club-record fee of 79 million pounds, a bold bet on the teenager who had already shown flashes of brilliance in Germany.
From Paris to Frankfurt and Into Anfield: A Path Shaped by Trial and Triumph
In an extended interview with BBC, Ekitike reveals dramatic, almost painful stories from his early years, illustrating how nearly quitting the game once seemed like a real option before he found a new direction that would carry him forward.
He recalls, with blunt honesty, the moment when he was fourteen and at the Reims academy: he was far from his potential, dreamt big yet slept through his chances, and sat with his parents in a meeting where they warned that continuing in this way would cost him his place at the end of the season. “I tasted the sting of failure,” he admits.
That moment was a turning point. He says he resolved not to let it happen again, insisting that he would become the best. When he returned, he was a different player—more focused, more determined, and more resilient.
After a brief, challenging spell in Paris and then a significant stint in Germany, he faced failure head-on and learned to turn it into fuel for growth. His breakthrough year in Frankfurt saw him bag 15 goals and 8 assists in a single season, drawing Liverpool’s interest and prompting a major investment to help shape a new generation at Anfield.
Adapting to the Premier League was not a walk in the park. He faced the kind of early tests that can make or break a young forward, even as he began to make his mark—five goals in nine appearances for Liverpool before a red card against Southampton briefly punctured the ascent.
Describing the secret to his quick acclimatization, he highlights the priceless aid of teammates, especially Mohamed Salah. “Salah is a wonderful person—open, chatty, and always ready to help. Playing with him is different from watching him on TV; you learn by being beside him, and he made the adaptation smoother.”
Born in Reims, his life outside the spotlight has always mattered. He speaks of growing up shy yet deeply in love with football, playing on streets, in school, with brothers and cousins who weren’t all gifted but shared the same passion. His first club, Cormontreuil, came when he was about four and a half years old, guided by his early coach Rudolf, whose kindness he has never forgotten.
Despite the pressures of fame that come with Liverpool, he strives to keep life simple and private. He says he would rather be famous yet anonymous, keeping his private time away from prying eyes. On rests days, he might return to Paris to see family, or spend a day off gaming on PlayStation, watching films, or relaxing by the pool and jacuzzi.
He even reveals another talent: drawing. He sketches people and scenes from life with ease, a hobby that brings moments of calm amid the high-octane life of professional football.
Looking ahead, Ekitike’s ambition is clear: to win the Premier League with Liverpool. He recognizes how special the league is for fans and believes lifting the title would be a dream come true—the very reason he left his home country for this challenge. He is determined to work hard, prove he belongs, and help the team reach the summit.
Punchline 1: If setbacks were a league, he’d already be promoted to the top division of resilience.
Punchline 2: He came to Liverpool to win the Premier League; if not, at least he’ll still be famous for his donuts-and-dreams approach to life at Anfield.
