Hugo Ekitike’s return to action has been tentatively outlined, with Liverpool’s need for a new striker signing a regular topic of debate this summer.
The 23-year-old was in fine form for Liverpool last season following his £79million move to Anfield. Ekitike scored 17 goals and provided six assists before his untimely injury.
In the second leg of Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final tie with PSG, the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker suffered a total rupture of his Achilles tendon.
At the moment of injury, Ekitike fell to the ground, bracing for impact for a tackle that he expected from a PSG player. The sad truth of the matter is that there was no impact from an incoming challenge; his Achilles ruptured spontaneously. At the time, I explained the science behind why this happens, but all the same, Liverpool are now dealing with the fallout of the injury.
With the Reds now in the midst of another summer transfer rebuild, they may now need to sign another striker to contend with the loss of their mercurial Frenchman.
Sad to think that Hugo Ekitike should’ve been starting his first ever World Cup game later today.
I have no doubt that Ekitike will be back to his very best and he’ll be at the 2028 World Cup. An Achilles rupture is not going to stop this jugador.
pic.twitter.com/ntsIcIa1Kx
— CounterPressers (@CounterPressers) June 16, 2026
French media reports on Hugo Ekitike’s injury recovery timeline
French newspaper L’Equipe has reported on the painful and challenging journey Liverpool’s Ekitike has been on since his injury in April, which has tragically seen him ruled out of the current World Cup where he was certain to play a crucial role for Les Bleus.
They report that his friends have family are doing their best to occupy his mind and keep him distracted from the active lifestyle which was replaced by his new sedentary reality. It’s the harsh reality of a professional footballer’s life. Neymar Jr has spoken at length about this numerous times. One minute, you’re surrounded by tens of thousands of people playing a crucial role in their collective happiness, the next, you feel alone and stranded.
Between regular physio and check-ups, Ekitke has a lot to do before he returns to the emotional heights he experienced just three months ago.
L’Equipe reports that “the medical teams’ progress reports bring positive news, with healing progressing well. The marathon toward his comeback will be long, and Ekitike knows it. So, the striker is trying to mobilize the rest of his body, so he doesn’t have to start from too far behind when he can finally remove his boot and put weight on his foot. Upper-body strength training, swimming—he’s doing what he can.”
However, he will only return to training in the autumn later this year, while a return to Anfield is only likely to come on Boxing Day at the earliest, meaning he may well only return in 2027 if there are any setbacks.
? | BREAKING: @lequipe: Hugo Ekitike intends to return to training in autumn before getting back into competitive action on Boxing Day.
Liverpool’s medical teams’ progress reports are said to be positive. pic.twitter.com/h6YJLVCpdg
— Anfield Edition | æ (@AnfieldEdition) June 16, 2026