Who is Hugo Ekitike and why Newcastle are on to a winner with the French teenager
- Graeme Bailey
- 14 June 2022
Nineteen-year-old Hugo Ekitike comes with a big reputation - and a big price tag.
Newcastle United are close to sealing a deal for Hugo Ekitike - one of Europe's most highly-rated young players.
No teenager scored more than the 19-year-old in Europe's top five leagues than the Reims forward, but just how good is he?
Where is he from?
Hugo Ekitike was born in Reims and he has come through the ranks at his hometown club Stade de Reims, who he joined aged just 11.
Who does he play for?
He has spent time on loan with Vejle BK in Denmark, but that aside he has always been with Reims. He is also a fixture in the French Under-20 side.
What type of player is he?
Labelled the new Kylian Mbappe in France. Aside from bearing a strong physical resemblance to the PSG superstar, he also boasts a very similar playing style.
He can play anywhere across the front line but is perhaps happier attacking the flank. Many think his future may lie down the middle.
What has he said?
Another reason he is labelled the new Mbappe is that he admits that he has modelled his game on the French star.
"Over the last few years, he is the player I watch the most, who inspires me, and not necessarily only on the pitch," he admits.
"That's what it means to be a top-level player and that's what I aspire to become."
What have they said?
Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot admits that Ekitike has already outgrown the club.
"In Hugo's case, he would be wasting his time staying with us," said Caillot. "This money will be used to grow, to improve the club. Hugo has an exit ticket and he's probably going to leave. I don't have a big club that didn't come to us for information."
Where is he going?
Ekitike is bound for Newcastle, but they have not had it all their own way and have had to fend off some major interest to seal a deal which will be worth just shy of £30million.
All of the Premier League's top clubs and the likes of PSG and Borussia Dortmund were interested - safe to say Ekitike could be something special.
