As Liverpool prepare to unveil Hugo Ekitike as their marquee summer signing, past comments made by Thierry Henry about the French striker have resurfaced — sparking debate among fans eager to see if the 23-year-old can live up to his growing reputation.
The reigning Premier League champions announced on Monday that they had reached a deal worth £79 million with Eintracht Frankfurt for Ekitike, beating out late interest from Newcastle United. The forward is set to join an exciting crop of young talent at Anfield, including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez, as Liverpool look to defend their league crown and bolster their attacking options.
Henry’s Warning: “He Doesn’t Do the Basics Well”
While comparisons between Ekitike and France legend Thierry Henry have circled for years due to their similar profiles, the Arsenal icon himself has previously offered a more cautious evaluation of the young forward.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Micah Richards — who regularly works alongside Henry on CBS Sports — shared the Frenchman’s candid views on Ekitike. According to Richards, Henry highlighted both the striker’s high ceiling and his inconsistency.
“In terms of Ekitike, I’ve spoken to Thierry about him a lot. He says he’s not necessarily a frustrating player, but one minute he looks amazing and the next minute he doesn’t do the basics very well. He said if he gets it right and improves, then his ceiling could be very, very high,” Richards revealed.
Henry’s reservations appear to be reflected in his managerial choices during his time in charge of France’s U21 and U23 sides. Ekitike was notably left out of the squads for both the European qualifiers and the 2024 Olympics, where France went on to win the silver medal. Instead, Henry opted for more experienced options like Alexandre Lacazette and Jean-Philippe Mateta to lead the line.
High Expectations at Anfield
Despite Henry’s concerns, Liverpool’s coaching staff clearly see significant potential in Ekitike. Known for his speed, technical ability, and flair in the final third, the former PSG and Reims forward is expected to fill a central attacking role — possibly as a long-term successor to Darwin Núñez or a complementary piece in a revamped front line.
Only time will tell whether Ekitike can silence the doubters and reach the “very, very high” ceiling that Henry alluded to. But with a record fee and the weight of expectation now on his shoulders, all eyes will be on Anfield as the Frenchman begins the next chapter of his career.
