New Hugo Ekitike revelation makes £80m deal look even more phenomenal

Liverpool made a fantastic signing in the summer with Hugo Ekitike. But it turns out it's even better than we thought.

Liverpool took a real chance on Hugo Ekitike in the summer. The Frenchman, after all, had 'failed' with Paris Saint-Germain, struggling to find games at an elite club that had invested in him.

They sold him to Eintracht Frankfurt and Ekitike certainly enjoyed his time in the Bundesliga. Still, was he capable of stepping up into the highest-pressure environment?

Liverpool felt he could, and struck an £80m deal for the striker in the summer. However, they didn't quite go all-in on Ekitike as Alexander Isak joined at the end of the window to play a very similar role.

Suddenly, Ekitike was the second striker. Six months later, there's no question that he's the first. Isak's injury has propelled him into that position but even before that, Liverpool's no.22 has been a revelation.

In fact, he's even better than we thought.

Hugo Ekitike's elite pace

It’s easy to see why Ekitike is so good just by watching him for a few minutes. He’s physically imposing but boasts a fantastic touch - and his ability to be in the right place at the right time is elite.

What we didn’t see coming, though, was his explosive pace. CIES Football Observatory have posted data top speeds in the UEFA Champions League this season and Ekitike has been Liverpool’s fastest player.

Among strikers, he’s been the third-fastest in the entire competition. Only Kylian Mbappe and Lois Openda beat him in that regard.

It’s brilliant to see given Ekitike wasn’t considered that fast when joining Liverpool. He had the 30th top speed in the Bundesliga last season but it seems that he’s a standout in Europe’s biggest competition.

And it’s just another thing that makes this transfer look so fantastic in hindsight. Ekitike really does have all the tools to be an elite striker, making him arguably the first since Fernando Torres where you could say that about a Liverpool striker.

The physicality, the pace, the touch and the finishing. The Reds have got themselves someone who does it all - and that will naturally lead to an incredibly exciting future.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

👉🏻 Liverpool get GREEN light to sign Nico Schlotterbeck

👉🏻 Centre-back confirms he's ready to join Liverpool

👉🏻 Fabrizio Romano CONFIRMS belief £52m Liverpool target will agree move