Frankfurt, Germany – Hugo Ekitike, the rising star of Eintracht Frankfurt, don show him true potential this season as he lead im team enter Europa League quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur this Thursday. The 22-year-old forward don score 19 goals and provide eight assists for Frankfurt this season.
Despite losing top scorer Omar Marmoush to Manchester City in January, Ekitike don help Frankfurt hold third position for Bundesliga as dem dey chase Champions League place for next season. Christopher Michel, football reporter for Frankfurter Rundschau, talk say, “Ekitike don get wonderful season; him technique na one of the best for Europe, and him foot dey glue to the ball. E fit dribble and shoot with both left and right foot, which na quality wey top strikers suppose get.”
Ekitike don attract interest from several Premier League teams as him impressive form no dey go unnoticed. In 2022, Newcastle United try sign the forward after their takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, but he choose remain for France to finish the season with Stade Reims.
The summer wey follow, Newcastle reportedly agree fee to bring him, but Ekitike opt for Paris Saint-Germain instead. He spend im time with PSG on loan, featuring with football legends like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi, but e not enjoy enough playing time and eventually move to Frankfurt on February 1, 2024, before dem make the loan permanent in April.
During im time for Reims, Ekitike first shined at the age of 17. He score 10 goals and later spent time on loan at Danish club Vejle, where captain Jacob Schoop describe him as a player with positive attitude and serious dedication to training. Schoop remember say, “He dey always happy and like to dance in the dressing room. Even when e dey train hard, him go dey laugh and find joy in him play.”
Ekitike’s journey from Vejle to Frankfurt don reveal his growth as a player. At first, people dey doubt if e go fit play as lone striker for elite clubs. But since Marmoush don leave, Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoller don find new system wey go fit Ekitike style, and him don mature into a key player for di team. “E don improve fast, and e fit play well even when e no score,” Michel talk about Ekitike’s current form.
This summer, if Ekitike decide to leave Frankfurt, e go fetch huge profit for di club, as dem buy am for 16.5 million euros just last year. Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche dey pursue a strategy of developing talents and selling dem to bigger clubs, and Ekitike fit be next player for di lineup.
Michel explain the reality behind Frankfurt dreams: “Dey get 10 or 12 clubs for Europe wey if dem call, Frankfurt no go fit say no. Deys don lose talented players like Marmoush and Luka Jovic before from the same decision.”
Frankfurt fans, tough them dey feel bad losing their best players, dem still support di club as dem aim to keep developing young stars like Ekitike. Ekitike don shine in recent matches, especially during di last round against Ajax, where e provide assist and score himself, helping di team to a 4-1 win. With him current form, di fans dey hope say E go lead dem to another Europa League title.
Despite the earlier setback, Ekitike dey look forward to di upcoming challenges. E talk say, “This na my first experience for Europa League, and I don see how important das competition be for di club. We dey aim to win di title this season. Lifting di cup with Eintracht Frankfurt – why not?”
