Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park on August 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)placeholder image
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park on August 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Newcastle United ‘agreed everything’ to sign the Frenchman last summer.
In the colours of Stade de Reims at the time, Ekitike turned down approaches from the Magpies in January 2022 and in the following summer before moving to Paris Saint-Germain.
The switch to Paris did not work out. After 18 months, Ekitike was binned by manager Luis Enrique and shipped to Eintracht Frankfurt. He initially joined on loan in January 2024 before joining permanently the following summer.
After scoring 22 goals in 48 appearances last season, Newcastle renewed their interest last summer and had, according to super agent Ali Barat, “agreed everything”. That was until Liverpool hijacked the move in a deal worth £69million plus £10m in add-ons.
To make matters worse, the Reds soon moved to unsettle Alexander Isak, who went on strike to force his £130m British record transfer to Anfield. Also missing out on Joao Pedro and Liam Delap to Chelsea, and Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United, the Magpies settled on the £69m club-record signing of Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart and Yoane Wissa for £55m from Brentford.
Eddie Howe: I tried to sign Hugo Ekitike twice for Newcastle United
Howe will decide whether it’ll be Woltemade or Wissa who leads Newcastle’s attack at Anfield on Saturday night, but there is little doubt over who will start up front for Liverpool.
With Isak sidelined with a broken leg, Ekitike is set to get the nod and will look to build on his 13 goals for the season, one of which came at St James’ Park in a 3-2 win earlier in the season.
Asked about Ekitike and the threats he brings to Newcastle’s defence, Howe said: “Very, very good player. I think it’s well known I've liked him for a number of years, tried to sign him twice.
“He's got a bit of everything, he's great movement, can score with both feet, good in the air. Dribbles with the ball really well, so I think he's someone we're going to have to do really, really well against.
“I thought we did relatively well against him in the first game, but of course he scored. But yeah, a big talent.”
Hugo Ekitike reacts to turning down Newcastle United last summer
Speaking to the media after Liverpool’s 6-0 win over Qarabag, who the Magpies will face in Champions League play-off round, Ekitike confirmed he was close to moving to Tyneside.
“Obviously we were close but I made my choice already,” said Ekitike. “I know where I wanted to come and I am where I wanted to come. That’s all I can give to you.”
And when it was suggested he could get some “stick” from the travelling Geordies on Saturday night, Ekitike replied: “I don’t care. I play for Liverpool. I have my fans here and we played there already and we won, so hopefully we’re going to have a great week of working. I don’t care about this, I just want to play.”
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