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Arsenal scouts were sent to scout Hugo Ekitike during Frankfurt's Europa League quater-final double header against Tottenham, with the former PSG star earning comparisons to Thierry Henry.
Earlier this month, Pulse Sports reported that Arsenal sent their scouts to watch the Europa quarter final League-double header between Tottenham and Eintracht Frankfurt.
It might have been surprising to see Arsenal-affiliated staff attending a game involving the club’s sworn North London Rivals Tottenham Hotspur, but they were at both games to have a look at Hugo Ekitike.
And indeed in the first leg, It took just six minutes for Ekitike to show them why they were right to come and watch him, as Arteta is attempting to fill the center forward void, having played much of the season without a recognised striker.
Receiving the ball just inside Tottenham’s half in a high-stakes Europa League quarter-final clash, the 22-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt striker drove straight at Pedro Porro, cut inside with ease, and unleashed a clinical low finish into the bottom corner.
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His celebration—a knee slide that echoed Arsenal legend Thierry Henry’s iconic pose—was no coincidence. Ekitike even reposted a side-by-side of the two moments on Instagram, a subtle nod to a comparison that’s followed him for years.
Arsenal fans are now watching closely. So are Liverpool. With 21 goals this season, Ekitike is no longer just a prospect; he’s a hot commodity, and it might take upwards of £85 million to pry him away from Frankfurt.
Rewind nearly three years and Ekitike was on the verge of joining Newcastle from Stade Reims. “The next Thierry Henry” was the buzz in the North East.
Both French, tall, and graceful on the move. Both forwards who thrived drifting left and attacking with purpose. But at the last minute, Ekitike opted for the glitz of Paris Saint-Germain. Newcastle instead signed Alexander Isak, a move that’s aged well—but there’s still a lingering sense of what could have been.
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At PSG, things didn’t pan out. Despite rubbing shoulders with Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe, Ekitike never fully settled. Critics, including former PSG midfielder Eric Rabesandratana, accused him of lacking the mentality to thrive at a club of that stature. “His attitude didn’t correspond at all to what you expect,” Rabesandratana said bluntly.
How Frankfurt turned around his career
A loan to Eintracht Frankfurt in February 2024 changed everything. By April, the deal was made permanent—and so began his renaissance. Goals came in bunches. Style followed suit. The Lamborghini-driving, diamond-tracksuit-wearing striker was now the centerpiece of Frankfurt’s Champions League chase.
“He is a complete striker,” said Frankfurt-based journalist Christopher Michel to The Daily Mail. “He’s fast, can shoot with both feet, is strong with his back to goal, can dribble, and can even be a playmaker. I think he has more talent than Omar Marmoush.”
That’s no small statement. Marmoush, Ekitike’s former strike partner, earned a £60 million move to Manchester City in January. Since then, Ekitike has thrived as Frankfurt’s lone striker, with World Cup winner Mario Goetze serving as his chief creator.
“He benefits from Goetze’s brilliant passes and is ice-cold in front of goal,” added German football journalist Manni Sedlbauer to The Daily Mail. “Defensive work? Not always his strength. But as a pure striker, he’s one of the best in the Bundesliga—maybe even in Europe.”
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Born in Reims, Ekitike rose through the ranks of his hometown club and signed his first pro contract at 17. His natural feel for goal was obvious from the start.
“We saw huge potential, something natural,” said Franck Chalencon, his coach in the Reims reserve team. “It’s very rare he plays without creating at least one chance.”
By the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season, he was scoring regularly—10 goals in 24 appearances—and caught the attention of top clubs. “There is something very special about him,” said then Reims manager Oscar Garcia.
Now, that special quality is on full display in Frankfurt—and Arsenal are reportedly preparing to make a move.
Premier League bound?
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Although Frankfurt were eliminated by Tottenham, it certainly will not be the last time he is facing Premier League opposition, especially should Arsenal or Liverpool come calling in the summer.
The Thierry Henry comparisons might be premature. But with every goal, every touch, and every audacious celebration, Ekitike is writing a story all his own. And the best chapters might still be ahead.
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