When Hugo Ekitike was still a teenager at Stade Reims, the club’s coaching staff designed a tailored development plan just for him. They began by analyzing Kylian Mbappe’s playing style and then selected two other forwards—more realistic benchmarks—whom Ekitike could emulate.

“These were strikers with similar profiles,” recalled Oscar Garcia, Reims’ head coach at the time, in an interview with Sky Sports. “They played for stronger teams than us, but not on the level of Paris Saint-Germain. We gave him a challenge: aim to reach their level first.”

At the time, it seemed like a reasonable short-term goal. Ekitike hadn’t even scored a goal in Ligue 1 yet and had just returned from a loan spell at Danish club Vejle Boldklub. Starting the season as the fourth-choice striker, few expected what came next.

It didn’t take long for Ekitike to turn heads. Within months, those original benchmarks were no longer relevant—he was aiming for Mbappe himself. “Just a few months into the season, he was already talking about reaching Mbappe’s level,” said Garcia. “That tells you about his mindset.”

That mindset now carries him into a new chapter at Liverpool. Previously linked with Manchester United and Chelsea, and the subject of a rejected €70 million bid from Newcastle, Ekitike is finally on the move after Eintracht Frankfurt accepted Liverpool’s €95 million offer—one of the most talked-about deals of the summer.

“He’s always been a talented player,” Garcia admitted. “But some coaches didn’t like his personality or playing style. Some thought he was arrogant. He always wanted to be compared to the best.”

Now, at 22, Ekitike is beginning to prove that he might just belong in those comparisons. After a breakout season in the Bundesliga with Frankfurt—scoring 22 goals in all competitions—he’s finally showing the promise many believed he would fulfill sooner.

His move to PSG in 2022 was always a risk. Competing for minutes in a front line that included Mbappe, Neymar, and Messi was a near-impossible task for any young forward. Most of his appearances came from the bench. “Any striker would’ve struggled in that situation,” Garcia noted. “But I’m sure he learned a lot and came out a better player.”

Frankfurt, a club known for smart signings, recognized that failing to break through at PSG didn’t mean Ekitike was a lost cause. After an initial loan spell, they secured him permanently in the summer of 2024, and under manager Dino Toppmöller, Ekitike blossomed.

He became the focal point of Frankfurt’s attack after Omar Marmoush departed for Manchester City in January, helping the club finish third in the Bundesliga—its highest-ever placing in the modern era. Ekitike stepped up precisely when the team needed leadership and goals.

Playing alongside Marmoush earlier in the season, Ekitike formed a modern, fluid strike partnership—not the traditional “big man–small man” combo, but a duo where both players could drift wide, interchange positions, and share the goal-scoring burden.

Standing at 1.91m, Ekitike is not a typical target man. “He’s not the kind of striker who just waits in the box for crosses,” Garcia explained. “He’s dynamic and very difficult to mark.” Ekitike prefers to use his pace to attack space behind the defense, especially in transition.

In fact, the only player to match his number of counter-attacking goals in the Bundesliga last season was his former partner Marmoush—a stat that speaks volumes about Frankfurt’s tactical identity. But Garcia believes Ekitike’s s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 set is much more versatile.

“He can thrive in counter-attacking teams, but he’s also technically gifted enough to play in possession-heavy systems. That’s what makes him so intriguing for top clubs.” Many believe he’s still far from reaching his full potential.

“You won’t find many strikers like him at this age—tall, fast, clever movement, strong in one-on-ones, good link-up play, and he knows how to score.”

While his 15 league goals represent a personal best, it may just be the beginning. Analysts have noted that he attempted 117 shots during the 2024–25 Bundesliga season—more than any other player, including Harry Kane.

“Every player can improve,” Garcia emphasized. “He knows where he needs to grow, but he also needs the right support. Personal coaching will be key to unlocking his full potential.”

That development is already underway. Ekitike has the pace and technical flair, and now he’s learning to better use his physicality. Mentally, scouts also applaud his ability to step up under pressure, especially in the crucial second half of the season.

From a rocky stint at PSG to rediscovering himself in Germany, and now heading to one of the most demanding clubs in world football, Ekitike’s path has been anything but straightforward. But the ambition that once drew laughs—being the next Mbappe—is what now fuels his next challenge.

Is he ready for the Premier League? For the intensity of Anfield? Time will tell. But Hugo Ekitike has never doubted himself—and perhaps, that confidence is what sets him apart.