Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike has issued a message after he suffered a serious Achilles injury during Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain
Hugo Ekitike has spoken about his injury for the first time(Image: Getty Images)
Hugo Ekitike has sent a message after rupturing his Achilles during Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. Ekitike, 23, left the pitch on a stretcher and in tears after just 31 minutes of the quarter-final second leg at Anfield.
After attempting to sprint, the Frenchman went down off the ball and was in serious pain. He received immediate medical attention before being taken off the pitch and straight down the tunnel.
Arne Slot cut a concerned figure post-match and said the injury “didn’t look good” and Liverpool have since revealed that Ekitike has torn his Achilles tendon and is set for a long spell on the sidelines.
Shortly after the Reds released a statement to confirm Ekitike’s diagnosis, the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt and PSG man then took to social media to break his silence.
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In a social media post, Ekitike said: “It’s hard, maybe even unfair… but I’m grateful this is happening to me here, among you. I’m not alone. Your strength and your love will be my driving force. See you again soon, Anfield [love heart emoji].”
Ekitike has received support from current and former team-mates since suffering the injury. In the comments section to his post on Instagram, Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch put a folded hands emoji and red love heart emoji.
Fellows Reds Milos Kerkez, Stefan Bajcetic, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and James McDonnell all posted a red love heart emoji, while Kostas Tsimikas, who is currently on loan at Roma, commented: “Stay strong broski [red love heart emoji].”
The official account of the France Football Federation added: “We are with you [folded hands emoji and blue love heart emoji].”
Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai put Ekitike’s on his Instagram story and it was accompanied with a red love heart emoji, a fingers crossed emoji and an hourglass emoji.
The club statement and Ekitike’s message comes less than 24 hours since France manager Didier Deschamps ruled the forward out of this summer’s World Cup in North America.
“Unfortunately, the severity of [Ekitike’s] injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup,” Deschamps said in a statement from FFF on Wednesday.
“This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team. I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff.”
Ekitike is now not expected to feature for Liverpool or France until at least 2027. He is poised to miss the end of the 2025/26 season, the World Cup and the first half of the 2026/27 campaign.
