Liverpool has finalized the signing of striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported fee of £69 million (approximately AU$142 million), continuing their significant summer investment as Premier League champions.
The 23-year-old player has successfully completed his medical examination and has agreed to personal terms with Liverpool, enabling him to travel to Hong Kong to join his new teammates on their pre-season tour of Asia later this week, as stated by the club.
This transfer is expected to increase Liverpool's summer spending to over $514 million. Liverpool shifted their focus to Ekitike after Newcastle declined to sell Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who is valued at around $308 million.
Newcastle and Manchester United also expressed interest in Ekitike, but Liverpool secured the transfer of one of Europe’s promising young talents. The deal includes potential add-ons that could raise the total cost to $162 million.
Ekitike had an impressive season with Frankfurt, scoring 22 goals in 48 matches across all competitions after joining the Bundesliga club from Paris Saint-Germain. He was recognized in the Bundesliga team of the season as Frankfurt finished third in the league.
Following the tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car accident in Spain, Liverpool has a vacancy in their forward line. The club is also reportedly open to selling Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, while they rejected a bid from Bayern Munich for Colombia forward Luis Diaz.
In addition to Ekitike, Liverpool has already invested $238 million this summer in players including German playmaker Florian Wirtz and defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
Meanwhile, Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has joined the team after agreeing to his move from Valencia for 2024.
Ekitike began his career at his hometown club Reims and had a brief loan spell in Denmark in 2021 before moving to PSG. His first season in Paris was challenging due to competition with stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar, yet he earned a Ligue 1 winner’s medal. His opportunities were limited at the beginning of the 2023-24 season prior to his loan move to Frankfurt.
Eintracht sporting director Markus Krosche expressed satisfaction with Ekitike's development during his time at the club, stating that he has been a valuable asset both on and off the pitch.
In a separate development, Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona on loan from Manchester United, with the Spanish club announcing the agreement includes an option to purchase the player.
Barcelona will cover approximately 75 percent of Rashford’s weekly wage of $668,000 during his loan period, which totals around $26 million over 12 months. The 27-year-old England international had fallen out of favor at Manchester United under coach Ruben Amorim and spent part of the previous season on loan at Aston Villa.
Rashford expressed his excitement about joining Barcelona, describing the club as a family and stating that it feels like home. He emphasized his eagerness to contribute to the team's success and acknowledged the importance of his time at Manchester United.
He will wear the number 14 shirt at Barcelona, previously worn by notable players such as Thierry Henry. Rashford is prepared for the challenges ahead and aims to help the team win trophies.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick previously praised Rashford as a fantastic player, indicating the club's desire to strengthen its attacking options. Rashford could also provide support for veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, who is approaching 37 years of age.
Having come through Manchester United’s academy, Rashford scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for the club before his loan. He managed to score four goals in 17 matches during his time at Aston Villa before an injury curtailed his season.
Barcelona is currently facing challenges in registering new signings due to La Liga regulations, and Rashford remains optimistic about his decision to join the club despite these potential hurdles.
Historically, few British players have played for Barcelona since the 1980s, and Rashford expressed a desire to emulate the success of former player Gary Lineker.
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