Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike has been ruled out for nine months after suffering an Achilles tendon rupture, the same setback fellow Frenchman Presnel Kimpembe endured over three years ago.
On 26 February 2023, the former Paris Saint-Germain defender was stretchered off during the French giants’ 3–0 victory over Marseille, and it is safe to say the injury changed his career trajectory forever.
Kimpembe now finds himself far from the glitz and glamour of life in Paris and playing for one of the biggest clubs in world football, where trophies have long been the standard expectation rather than the exception.
Kimpembe Opens Up on Injury Struggles
Presnel Kimpembe
A graduate of the PSG academy, Kimpembe was a cornerstone of the club’s backline for almost seven seasons, as well as a regular for the France national team.
The central defender helped PSG to eight Ligue 1 titles, six French Cups and even briefly featured in their Champions League-winning campaign last season.
However, his final two and a half years in Paris were largely defined by injury problems.
After rupturing his Achilles tendon in 2023, the Frenchman required back-to-back surgeries and endured a gruelling 700-day spell on the sidelines, with the damage to his foot later revealed in an image showing extensive stitches and staples.
Speaking to French publication ParisFans in 2025, Kimpembe admitted he “knew this injury would happen one day”. The Frenchman said:
“It was a very difficult period in my life. Honestly, I knew this injury would happen one day, but I didn’t know when.
“Before the 2022 World Cup, I was called up and I already had some pain. I was doing everything I could to treat it, strengthening my calf muscles to prevent the injury.
“But I decided not to go, because my health wasn’t optimal. I wouldn’t have been able to help the team 100%. I was weakened.”
Why Did Kimpembe Leave PSG?
Presnel Kimpembe
Following a two-year absence, Kimpembe made his return during PSG’s 2–0 win over Le Mans in the French Cup in February last year.
The 30-year-old defender made a total of five appearances in the 2024–25 campaign, which turned out to be his last at his boyhood club.
In September last year, Kimpembe joined Qatar SC for an undisclosed fee, and later explained his decision to leave the Parc des Princes:
“Everything happened quickly, I talked with the club about my situation, about how we could move forward while remaining amicable.
“I knew there wouldn’t be any conflict with Paris. Everything is fine. There has never been a problem. I simply want to play. I talked with the management, the president, and especially the coach.
“I explained to them that I couldn’t continue like this for a third year. That it would be very difficult. They agreed with me. They want to see me play. We all agreed that I should go. It was tough.”
Kimpembe has made 11 appearances for the Qatari side this season and is under contract until June, with the option to extend it by a further year.
Hugo Ekitike Related
How Long Hugo Ekitike Will be Out For as Fresh Update Over His Injury Emerges
The Frenchman looks set for a significant amount of time on the sidelines.