Liverpool have reached an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt to sign French striker Hugo Ekitike, with the deal worth up to £79million.

Sources at Liverpool have confirmed the Premier League champions will pay an initial £69million fee, with performance-related add-ons potentially taking the total to £79million. Once Ekitike completes his medical, he is expected to fly out to Hong Kong to join up with Arne Slot’s squad during their pre-season tour. He will sign a six-year contract at Anfield.

The agreement between the two clubs was finalised on Saturday, and personal terms have not posed an issue — Ekitike has been keen on a move to Liverpool throughout the process.

Newcastle United were previously in the mix for Ekitike’s signature and saw a €75million bid rejected earlier this summer. They have since cooled their interest and shifted focus to alternative targets, including Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

Liverpool also explored a move for Alexander Isak, with a £120million valuation discussed with Newcastle, but ultimately decided to pursue Ekitike, whose profile better suited their summer strategy.

This summer has already seen Slot bolster his squad with the arrivals of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez, but a new centre-forward has remained the top priority. The tragic passing of Diogo Jota earlier this year still casts a shadow over the club’s forward options, and further changes in the attacking department appear imminent.

The club is now open to offers for Darwin Nunez, while Luis Diaz has expressed a desire to leave, amid interest from both Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Ekitike’s form during the 2024–25 campaign made him one of the most sought-after forwards in European football. In his first full season with Frankfurt, the 23-year-old scored 22 goals and registered 12 assists across all competitions.

Having initially joined on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January 2024, Frankfurt made the move permanent last summer for just €17.5million. That deal now looks a bargain after Ekitike's emergence as a star in the Bundesliga, where he was named in the league’s Team of the Season.

The forward began his career at Stade de Reims, breaking into the first team as a teenager. He has represented France at Under-21 level five times but has yet to earn a senior cap.

By Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, German football writer

Ekitike is rapidly becoming a complete modern forward. His partnership with Omar Marmoush during the first half of the season was electric — combining pace, intelligence, and clinical finishing to devastating effect. When Marmoush departed for Manchester City, Ekitike seamlessly stepped into a more central attacking role and thrived.

While he has been most dangerous operating through the middle, Ekitike is equally comfortable drifting wide to the left, giving his managers tactical flexibility. His ability to run at defenders one-on-one, whether using pace or clever footwork, has made him a nightmare for full-backs and centre-halves alike.

“He’s a goalscorer, a counter-attacking threat, and a creator all in one,” said Stafford-Bloor. “Against Spurs in the Europa League quarter-finals, he scored a brilliant solo goal and tormented them throughout the tie.”

There’s a creative side to his game too. Ekitike has an eye for a pass and regularly delivers assists by slipping team-mates through with deft through balls or whipping in crosses from wide areas.

Though known for his technical skills, he’s also proven to be an effective target in the box. His movement and aerial ability have improved significantly in the past 12 months, adding another dimension to his game. While he occasionally snatches at chances — an area for improvement — his potential is clear.

“He’s not the finished product yet, but the ceiling is incredibly high,” Stafford-Bloor added. “He’s got the tools to succeed in the Premier League and the drive to keep improving.”

The arrival of Ekitike signals a continued evolution under Slot, who appears committed to reshaping Liverpool’s attacking structure. With the futures of Nunez and Diaz uncertain and Jota’s tragic death leaving a void both on and off the pitch, this signing provides both quality and promise.

At 23, Ekitike fits into the club’s longer-term plans and offers the type of profile that can be moulded into a star under the Dutch manager’s watch.

Should he adapt quickly to the Premier League, he may well be leading the line at Anfield for years to come — or at the very least be part of a fluid front three alongside the likes of Wirtz and Mohamed Salah, should the Egyptian winger stay for one more season.