Image Credits: Imago Images
Further reports are coming in on Hugo Ekitike’s Achilles tendon rupture from Sky Sports, after L’Equipe confirmed earlier today that it was indeed a full rupture suffered by the Frenchman on Tuesday night.
Ekitike is understood to be undergoing a series of scans to determine the full extent of the problem, with Arne Slot admitting after the game that he believes it is a “serious” setback for the forward.
If the rupture is confirmed, the typical recovery time for this kind of injury is around six to nine months, which would rule the 22‑year‑old out for the majority of the 2025/26 campaign and effectively end his hopes of making an early impression in pre‑season.
Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor has reported that in best case scenario it would be six-month recovery window – but could be as long as nine months:
“Ekitike today is undergoing scans to determine the full extent of the problem, and Arne Slot confirmed last night that he thinks it’s a serious one.”
“If it is a rupture, then that’s a recovery time of around six to nine months.”
Beyond the immediate blow to the player, the injury poses a major headache for Liverpool’s planning in the final third, with Ekitike having been viewed as a versatile option across the front line.
A long‑term absence would almost certainly force the club to reassess their summer transfer priorities, with attacking reinforcements likely to be pushed further up the agenda if the initial prognosis is confirmed by specialists in the coming days.
For now, thoughts go out to the Liverpool striker, who must be having all kinds of feelings sustaining this kind of injury right before a World Cup.