Liverpool have announced that their young striker Hugo Ekitike has suffered a serious Achilles injury that will keep him out for the rest of the campaign and also deprive him of a place in France's World Cup squad. The 23‑year‑old forward was forced to leave the field in the first half of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Paris Saint‑Germain at Anfield after slipping on the pitch. Subsequent medical scans confirmed a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon. Initial assessments suggest that Ekitike could be sidelined for a minimum of six months, with the most pessimistic scenarios extending his absence to nine months.
A precise timetable will only emerge once the club’s medical team completes a full evaluation and outlines a rehabilitation programme. Liverpool issued a statement on Thursday confirming the news: "Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France." The club expressed its disappointment but also conveyed confidence that the player will recover fully.
France manager Didier Deschamps also weighed in, noting that Hugo is among a handful of young talents who have broken into the national side in recent months. "He integrated perfectly with the squad, both on and off the pitch. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France team," Deschamps said. He added that the player's disappointment is understandable, but affirmed his belief that Ekitike will regain his top form.
"I want to express all my support to him, as well as that of the entire staff. We know he'll be fully behind the France team and we're all thinking of him very strongly." The timing of the injury is particularly painful for Liverpool, who are fighting to secure a Champions League berth for next season.
The team currently sit fifth in the Premier League, three points adrift of fourth‑placed Aston Villa and four points ahead of Chelsea. Losing a forward who has already contributed 19 goals across all competitions for club and country this season compounds the pressure on manager Arne Slot.
Ekitike's arrival at Anfield last summer was a headline‑grabbing £79 million deal from Eintracht Frankfurt. The club hoped he would form a potent attacking trio alongside fellow summer signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, a combination that would underpin a £320 million‑plus offensive line‑up. Unfortunately, injuries have repeatedly disrupted those plans. Isak, who returned from a broken leg sustained in December, made his first start of the season on the same day Ekitike went down.
While Isak’s presence offers a glimmer of hope, his own injury history means he cannot be relied upon as a constant goal‑scoring outlet. Slot reflected on the broader pattern of setbacks that have plagued Liverpool this term.
"Another injury for Liverpool compounds a common and unfortunate theme for their season," said Sky Sports' Peter Smith. "For 88 minutes [before Tuesday] we have played with Florian, Alex and Hugo.
We added about 27 to that [on Tuesday] and I would be surprised if we add more minutes to that this season," Slot explained, highlighting how rarely the club has been able to field all three marquee forwards together. The loss of Ekitike is just one of several significant absences that have forced Liverpool to reshuffle their line‑up repeatedly. First‑choice goalkeeper Alisson has missed matches due to hamstring issues, while defender Conor Bradley required knee surgery. Centre‑back Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury has strained the defensive depth, and other key players such as Jeremie Frimpong, Wataru Endo and Joe Gomez have also endured lengthy spells on the sidelines.
Despite these challenges, Slot remained optimistic about the squad’s fitness levels before the PSG encounter, only to be hit with another blow. "Losing a game is hard but again losing a player is something we've had many times this season," he said, underscoring the resilience required to navigate a season riddled with injuries. Looking ahead, Liverpool have a series of crucial fixtures that will determine their final league standing.
Upcoming matches include an away game at Everton on April 19, a home clash with Crystal Palace on April 25, and a high‑profile away tie against Manchester United on May 3. Further fixtures against Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Brentford will follow in May, each offering an opportunity to climb the table but also presenting the risk of further setbacks.
Ekitike’s rehabilitation will be closely monitored by Liverpool’s medical staff, with the aim of returning him to full fitness in time for the next season. The club’s medical director emphasized that modern sports medicine can often see athletes return from Achilles ruptures within six to nine months, provided the recovery programme is meticulously followed. For now, both Liverpool supporters and French fans will have to accept the unfortunate reality that a promising young talent will miss out on the climax of the club season and the global showcase of the World Cup. The hope remains that Hugo Ekitike will emerge from this adversity stronger, returning to Anfield and Les Bleus with renewed determination and the same lethal finishing that made him a coveted signing just a year ago.