Hugo Ekitike could win trophy on Liverpool debut as Reds confirm £82.4m Eintracht Frankfurt transfer

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of French striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth up to a reported €95m (£82.4m).

The former Paris Saint-Germain striker has agreed a six-year contract with the Premier League champions, who are understood to have paid €80m (£69.4m) up front to bring him to Anfield.

The Reds could also end up forking out an additional €10m (£8.7m) in easily achievable performance-related add-ons, and another €5m (£4.3m) in difficult bonuses for the 23-year-old.

Ekitike follows Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Armin Pecsi, Freddie Woodman, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili to Liverpool, thus becoming Arne Slot's seventh new face of the summer window.

The France Under-21 international departs Frankfurt after banking 26 goals and 14 assists in 64 matches for Die Adler in all tournaments, including 15 strikes and eight helpers in last season's Bundesliga.

When Ekitike could make Liverpool debut after Frankfurt transfer

Liverpool confirmed in a club statement that the move was still subject to international clearance, but Ekitike has passed his medical and is now due to fly out to Asia to link up with the rest of the squad.

Ekitike is expected to arrive in Hong Kong before Liverpool face AC Milan on Saturday, and there is a slight chance that he could make his unofficial Reds debut against the Rossoneri, as both teams vie for the Standard Chartered Trophy.

However, a baptism against Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan on July 30 could be in store, as Liverpool face the J1 League side in the 2025 edition of the J. League World Challenge.

Ekitike could therefore win a piece of silverware - albeit a minor one - on his first appearance for Liverpool, and he will then be introduced to the Anfield crowd on August 4, when the Reds face Athletic Bilbao in a double-header.

The striker's competitive debut could then come in the Community Shield on August 10, five days before the Reds open their Premier League title defence against Bournemouth.

What next for Liverpool after Ekitike transfer?

Blessed with hundreds of millions to play with this summer, Liverpool's cash-splashing spree is not expected to slow down after the marquee addition of Ekitike.

The Reds made the Frenchman their number one attacking priority after an approach for Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, whom the Magpies are determined to retain at all costs.

However, Liverpool signing both Isak and Ekitike in one window is not totally beyond the realm of possibility, especially if Newcastle - formerly said to be top contenders for Ekitike - can bring in a new striker themselves.

Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi remains on the Reds' radar too, but the English champions will also be expected to press ahead with some high-profile sales, namely Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott.

Written by
Ben Knapton