Hugo Ekitike
{{short description|French footballer (born 2002)}}
{{Lead too short|date=April 2025}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Hugo Ekitike
| image = Hugo Ekitike (PSG 2023).jpg
| caption = Ekitike playing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2023
| full_name = Hugo Ekitike
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|6|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Reims, Marne, France
| height = 1.90 m{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/hugo-ekitike |title=Hugo Ekitiké |publisher=Bundesliga |access-date=27 April 2024}}
| 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 = 33
| goals7 = 15
| nationalyears1 = 2021–2022
| nationalteam1 = France U20
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2024–2025
| nationalteam2 = France U21
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 5
| club-update = 23:15, 17 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 25 March 2025
}}
Hugo Ekitike (or Ekitiké; born 20 June 2002) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for {{German football updater|EinFrank}} club Eintracht Frankfurt.
Early life
Hugo Ekitike{{cite web |url=https://www.verif.com/dirigeants/Hugo-EKITIKE-13697395/ |title=Hugo Ekitike |website=Verif.com |access-date=8 March 2025 |language=fr}} was born on 20 June 2002 in Reims, Marne,{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur76750.html |title=Hugo Ekitike |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=7 August 2022 |language=fr}} to a Cameroonian father and a French mother.{{cite web | url=https://www.camfoot.com/actualites/hugo-ekitike-lequipe-de-france-represente-tout,513584.html | title=Hugo Ekitiké : « l'équipe de France représente tout » | date=5 March 2025 }}
Club career
=Reims=
On 12 July 2020, Ekitike signed his first professional contract with Reims.{{Cite web |url=https://www.stade-de-reims.com/premier-contrat-pro-pour-hugo-ekitike/ |title=Premier contrat pro pour Hugo Ekitike ! | Stade de Reims |website=stade-de-reims.com}} He debuted with the senior team in a 3–1 Ligue 1 loss to Lorient on 17 October 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/10/17/france/ligue-1/stade-de-reims/football-cub-lorient-bretagne-sud/3287462/ |title=Reims vs. Lorient – 17 October 2020 – Soccerway |website=Soccerway}} On 29 January 2021, Ekitike joined Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub on loan for the rest of the season.[https://vejle-boldklub.dk/vejle-boldklub-forstaerker-sig-med-ligue-1-talent/ Vejle Boldklub forstærker sig med Ligue 1-talent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031040431/https://vejle-boldklub.dk/vejle-boldklub-forstaerker-sig-med-ligue-1-talent/ |date=31 October 2021 }}, vejle-boldklub.dk, 29 January 2021
On 26 September 2021, Ekitike scored Reims' second and third goals in a 3–1 win against Nantes, having come on as a substitute.{{cite web |last1=Oludare |first1=Shina |title=Simon scores as Nantes lose to Ekitike's Reims |url=https://www.goal.com/en-ae/news/simon-scores-as-nantes-lose-to-ekitikes-reims/bg74tvddx3bg1wdivgb42g9lt |website=Goal (website) |access-date=27 September 2021 |date=26 September 2021}} 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".{{Cite web |date=31 January 2022 |title=Hugo Ekitike: Newcastle move for Reims forward off |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12529714/hugo-ekitike-newcastle-move-for-reims-forward-in-major-doubt-as-toon-push-for-jesse-lingard-deal |website=Sky Sports |access-date=31 January 2022}}
=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.{{cite web |title=Hugo Ekitiké signs with Paris Saint-Germain |url=https://en.psg.fr/teams/first-team/content/hugo-ekitike-signs-with-paris-saint-germain-psg-paris-saint-germain-mercato-hugo-ekitike |publisher=Paris Saint-Germain FC |date=16 July 2022|access-date=16 July 2022}} According to several sources, the purchase option in the deal was made mandatory.{{Cite web |last1=Aouna |first1=Santi |date=16 July 2022 |title=PSG : option d'achat obligatoire pour Hugo Ekitike |url=https://www.footmercato.net/amp6447250774907733292-option-dachat-obligatoire-pour-hugo-ekitike |access-date=17 July 2022 |website=Foot Mercato |language=fr}}
Ekitike made his PSG debut as a substitute in a 5–0 league win away to Clermont on 6 August 2022.{{Cite web |date=6 August 2022 |title=Debut for Ekitiké |url=https://en.psg.fr/teams/first-team/content/debut-for-hugo-ekitike-clermont-foot-63-paris-saint-germain-ligue-1-2022-2023 |access-date=7 August 2022 |publisher=Paris Saint-Germain FC}} On 1 October, he made his first start for the club in a 2–1 league victory over Nice at the Parc des Princes.{{Cite web |date=1 October 2022 |title=Ligue 1 : première titularisation pour Ekitike avec le PSG, Mbappé remplaçant contre Nice |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/ligue-1/ligue-1-premiere-titularisation-pour-ekitike-avec-le-psg-mbappe-remplacant-contre-nice-20221001 |access-date=11 October 2022 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}} 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.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=12 October 2022 |title=C1 - PSG Benfica : Les impressions d'Ekitike après le match |url=https://www.planetepsg.com/news-91722-c1-les_impressions_dekitike_apres_le_match.html |access-date=12 October 2022 |website=Planète PSG |language=fr}} On 13 November, he scored his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain in a 5–0 home win over Auxerre.{{Cite web |last=Hunsley |first=James |date=13 November 2022 |title=PSG coasting to another Ligue 1 title! Mbappe among scorers but Mendes shines brightest as champions pulverise Auxerre |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/goal-fest-parc-des-princes-psg-five-auxerre-five-clear-top-ligue-1/blt4f8d84349c545e34}} He finished the season with four goals and four assists in thirty-two matches, winning his first Ligue 1 title.{{Cite web |last=Paristeam |date=2023-06-20 |title=PSG : Hugo Ekitike, un contrat de 4 ans |url=https://www.paristeam.fr/actu-psg/transferts/psg-hugo-ekitike-un-contrat-de-4-ans-64087 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Paristeam |language=fr-FR}} In June 2023, his transfer to PSG became a permanent deal worth €28.5 million plus €6.5 million in bonuses.{{Cite web |url=https://foot11.com/news/mercato-le-psg-dans-lobligation-dacheter-ekitike-si-164988 |title=Mercato : le PSG dans l'obligation d'acheter Ekitike, si... |first1=Alexandre |last1=Chochois |language=fr |access-date=10 July 2023 |date=21 February 2023}}{{Cite web |last1=Aouna |first1=Santi |date=16 July 2022 |title=PSG : option d'achat obligatoire pour Hugo Ekitike |url=https://www.footmercato.net/amp6447250774907733292-option-dachat-obligatoire-pour-hugo-ekitike |access-date=17 July 2022 |website={{Interlanguage link|Foot Mercato|lt=Foot Mercato|fr|Foot Mercato}} |language=fr}} In September 2023, it was reported that he was excluded from the Champions League squad for the 2023–24 season.{{Cite news |last=Hawkins |first=Fabrice |title=PSG: Ekitike et Verratti officiellement écartés de la liste A de la Ligue des champions, Ethan Mbappé et Housni dans la liste B |url=https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/ligue-des-champions/psg-ekitike-et-verratti-officiellement-ecartes-de-la-liste-a-de-la-ligue-des-champions-ethan-mbappe-et-housni-dans-la-liste-b_AV-202309060905.html |work=RMC Sport |language=fr |date=6 September 2023 }}
= 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.{{Cite web |title=Eintracht Frankfurt sign Hugo Ekitiké |url=https://en.eintracht.de/news/eintracht-frankfurt-verpflichtet-hugo-ekitike-156461 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Eintracht Frankfurt |language=en}} He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat away to FC Köln two days later.{{Cite web |date=3 February 2024 |title=FC Cologne vs. Eintracht Frankfurt |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/03/germany/bundesliga/1-fc-koln/eintracht-frankfurt/4105394/ |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=Soccerway}} On 19 April, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 home victory over FC Augsburg.{{Cite news |title=PSG loanee Ekitiké scores winner as Eintracht Frankfurt beats Augsburg |url=https://www.ctpost.com/sports/article/psg-loanee-ekitike-scores-winner-as-eintracht-19412582.php |access-date=2024-04-28 |work=Connecticut Post |language=en}} 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.[https://apnews.com/article/eintracht-frankfurt-hugo-ekitike-psg-21ef8ba310c6f84e5405b3cc49f59ee4 Eintracht Frankfurt uses option to buy PSG striker Hugo Ekitiké following loan move] He signed a deal until the end of the 2028–29 season.{{Cite web |title=Francfort lève l'option d'achat pour Hugo Ekitike (PSG) |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Francfort-leve-l-option-d-achat-pour-hugo-ekitike-psg/1463494 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-27 |title=Bayern 2-1 Eintracht Fr.: results, summary and goals |url=https://en.as.com/resultados/futbol/alemania/2023_2024/directo/regular_a_31_443863/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=AS.com |language=en}}
On 10 April 2025, Eketike scored a long range strike in the Europa League quarter-finals first leg against Tottenham Hotspur.{{Cite web |date=10 April 2025 |title=Wasteful Tottenham forced to settle for draw with Frankfurt |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/733637 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=ESPN |language=en}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/equipe-de-france/foot-ekitike-et-lukeba-promus-chez-les-espoirs-20211109 |title=Foot : Ekitike et Lukeba promus chez les Espoirs |date=9 November 2021}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 17 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|624582|access-date=31 January 2022}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de France, DFB-Pokal}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||
| Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Reims B
|12 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 5 | ||
| 2020–21
|Championnat National 2 |2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22
|Championnat National 2 |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!15 | 6 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 6 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Reims
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0|0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021–22
|Ligue 1 |24 | 10 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 11 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!26 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 11 |
| Vejle Boldklub (loan)
|11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 3 | |
| Paris Saint-Germain (loan)
|Ligue 1 |25 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 32 | 4 |
| rowspan="2"|Paris Saint-Germain
|Ligue 1 |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!26 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 4 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt (loan)
|14 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 16 | 4 | |
| rowspan="2"|Eintracht Frankfurt
|Bundesliga |33 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 12{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 4 | 48 | 22 |
| colspan="2"|Total
!47 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 64 | 26 |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!125 | 41 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 151 | 50 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Paris Saint-Germain
- Ligue 1: 2022–23,{{cite web |date=27 May 2023 |title=Paris Saint-Germain crowned French champions for the 11th time |url=https://en.psg.fr/teams/first-team/content/paris-saint-germain-crowned-french-champions-for-the-11th-time-psg-ligue-1-champion |access-date=1 July 2023 |publisher=Paris Saint-Germain FC}} 2023–24{{cite web |date=28 April 2024 |title=Paris Saint-Germain win their 12th Ligue 1 title! |url=https://en.psg.fr/teams/first-team/content/paris-saint-germain-win-their-12th-ligue-1-title-psg-ligue-1-club-2023-2024 |access-date=28 April 2024 |publisher=Paris Saint-Germain FC}}
France U20
Individual
- Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2024–25{{cite news|title=The EA FC 25 Bundesliga Team of the Season 2024/25|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/team-of-the-season-2024-25-voting-best-players-ea-fc25-easports-31723|date=9 May 2025|access-date=9 May 2025|publisher=Bundesliga}}
- The Athletic Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2024–25{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6336642/2025/05/20/athletic-end-of-season-awards-2024-25-men/ |title= The Athletic’s end-of-season awards, 2024-25: Men’s football |website=The Athletic’s |date=28 May 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://en.eintracht.de/2024-2025/squad/hugo-ekitike/ Profile] at the Eintracht Frankfurt website
- {{FFF player}}
- {{UEFA player}}
{{Eintracht Frankfurt squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekitike, Hugo}}
Category:Footballers from Reims
Category:French men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Stade de Reims players
Category:Vejle Boldklub players
Category:Paris Saint-Germain FC players
Category:Eintracht Frankfurt players
Category:Championnat National 2 players
Category:Danish Superliga players
Category:France men's youth international footballers
Category:France men's under-21 international footballers
Category:French expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Denmark
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Black French sportspeople