New Liverpool signing Hugo Ekitike has been handed his first outing with the Premier League champions since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The £79m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt linked up with the squad in Hong Kong last week but watched from the sidelines during Saturday’s 4-2 defeat to AC Milan.
The new striker starts leading the line of the attack alongside Mohamed Salah on the right and Cody Gakpo on the left in a strong-looking XI selected by head coach Arne Slot as the Reds wrap up their pre-season tour of Asia with a clash against Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan.
Ekitike signed a six-year deal when completing a move from Eintracht Frankfurt for a package worth initial fee of £69m plus £10m in performance related add ons. The fee makes Ekitike the club’s third most-expensive signing of all-time, behind Florian Wirtz who also starts the friendly and Darwin Nunez who is on the bench.
Speaking after his move, the French U21 international expressed pride, excitement, and a hunger to help the Reds build on their Premier League triumph under Arne Slot.
The 23-year-old forward, who trained with his new teammates for the first time on Friday morning in Hong Kong, sat down for his first interview at the team hotel.
Speaking to the club’s official channels, Ekitike reflected on the magnitude of joining a club of Liverpool’s stature.
“I feel very proud. Obviously, it’s a big, big club. I’m just excited — I’m a bit like a kid
I’ve been dreaming to come and play in the Premier League. And to play for Liverpool is a big, big good feeling for me. I just can’t wait to start playing games and winning trophies.”
While Ekitike arrives as Liverpool’s first specialist attacking signing of the summer, there’s a sense this could be only the beginning of Liverpool’s attacking reshuffle. Luis Díaz completed his £65.5m transfer to Bayern Munich and Darwin Nunez is attracting interest from Saudi clubs and across Europe.
Ekitike, though, appears unfazed by the idea of increased competition and has hinted at a role playing alongside another striker.
“I do what the coach asks me to do, but yeah, I like to do everything
I can’t define myself only as a striker who likes to finish. I like to be in the game, in the collective part of play, and to create as well. I can play alone, but I like playing with another striker too and I think that’s what makes me versatile, but you know now in this football you need to adapt.”
The 23-year-old went on to reveal the role Arne Slot played in his decision to sign, with the head coach first speaking to the Frenchman at the end of last season.
“We had a very good first discussion together. Obviously, the coach is very human so we could talk not only about football [but] about everything.
I find him very interesting and I was very pleased to see what I can do with him because I think he is a really nice guy and I can still improve and progress with him. So, yeah, he is a really good coach and good person first, so that’s why he made me want to come here.
When you see a coach that can make and improve players, you know you want to be with him and progress because you know he can make you go to the next step.
And if you want to go higher I think it’s the right choice to do.”
With Ekitike’s signing now complete and the forward integrating quickly into pre-season, Liverpool’s forward line is beginning to take shape and supporters and in Tokyo will get a first glimpse of the club new striker.
