Hugo Ekitike suffered an Achilles tendon rupture and will undergo surgery to recover, but there is serious risk involved with the Frenchman set for a gruelling recovery plan.
Liverpool were beaten 2-0 by PSG at Wednesday, exiting the Champions League at the quarter-final stage with a 4-0 aggregate scoreline.
However, the most damaging aspect of the defeat came after 32 minutes when Ekitike was stretchered off after a seemingly innocuous moment.
The striker pulled up in agony despite not being anywhere near a PSG player, collapsing in pain after attempting a spring to compete for the ball.
Reports now indicate that he suffered a rupture of his Achilles tendon and is facing at least 9 months on the sidelines based on reports from French outlet L’Equipe.
Speaking post-match about Ekitike, head coach Arne Slot said: “I think we could all see that it didn’t look well and didn’t look good. Let’s wait and see what it will be. But we could all see it didn’t look good.
“In the second half, he went home so I haven’t seen him yet. Losing a game is already very hard, especially in the way we lost it, but again – as it seems to be – losing a player is something we’ve had so many times this season.
“It’s especially very hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially not at this moment of time in the season.”
Hugo Ekitike could face over 400 days on the sidelines based on Presnel Kimpembe injury and surgery timeline
Ekitike will not feel comforted by the nature of an injury suffered by his compatriot, Presnel Kimpembe.
The former PSG star, now at Stars League outfit Qatar SC, suffered an Achilles tendon rupture himself in the 2022-23 season, and was subsequently missing from action for 619 days (1 year, 8 months, 10 days).
Kimpembe subsequently underwent surgery to repair the injury and has not been the same player since.
Trigger warning: The image below of Kimpembe’s surgery wound may be distressing to some users.
Kimpembe surgery wound details the horrific nature of Achilles tendon injuries
Given the location of the Achilles tendon and the invasive operation required to repair the wound, it poses a huge risk to any athlete and his career.
TB to When Presnel Kimpembe suffered an Achilles tendon rupture, which kept him out of action for over 400 days.
The photo showed the back of his foot stitched up. ???
Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike has been diagnosed with a similar injury. pic.twitter.com/yMdpHvFUxa
— Goals Side (@goalsside) April 15, 2026
Sir David Beckham is one of the most notable players to have suffered this awful injury, and he was forced into retirement as a result.
Speaking about it after retiring, Beckham said it “felt a snap, like someone kicked me in the back of the leg.” He missed the 2010 World Cup as a result, a foreshadowing of the fate Ekitike now faces.