Leading English football club Liverpool has finalized another major addition for the summer transfer window, signing French forward Hugo Ekitike from German team Eintracht Frankfurt. The deal amounts to an initial 69 million pounds sterling, subject to international clearance.
The young 23-year-old player has already undergone mandatory medical examinations and officially agreed on his personal terms with the club's management. Ekitike is expected to join the team's pre-season tour in Asia within the current week.
Frankfurt initially negotiated the deal for a total of 79 million pounds, of which 69 million are guaranteed, and an additional 10 million are tied to achieving certain results. This transfer is another significant investment for Liverpool this summer season, with expenses already exceeding 250 million pounds.
In addition to Ekitike, the club has already signed Florian Wirtz for potentially record-breaking 116 million pounds in the UK, as well as defenders Milos Kerc and Jeremy Frimpong for a total of 70 million pounds.
An interesting fact is that before this transfer, Newcastle had submitted an offer of 70 million pounds for the player, which was rejected. Liverpool had shown interest in Sorokin's striker Alexander Isak.
Ekitike's statistics from the past season are extremely impressive - 15 goals scored in 31 matches as a starter and 8 assists, which helped Frankfurt secure third place in the Bundesliga championship.
Frankfurt's Sports Director Marcus Kroche shared emotional words about the talent: "Hugo has been developing incredibly over the past year and a half and became a true treasure for our team - both on and off the field. We are happy that he can take his next step, which he fully deserves".
Experts describe Ekitike as a versatile forward with exceptional tactical qualities. His ability to maneuver between positions, understanding of the game, and skill in creating opportunities make him an extremely promising addition to Liverpool.
The only slight concern is his relatively low efficiency in front of goal - despite 117 shots on target last season, his conversion rate is only 12.8%. However, this is seen more as an opportunity for improvement rather than a serious drawback.
Ekitike's transfer appears to be another strategic investment by Liverpool in young and promising footballers who can contribute to the club's long-term success.