Frankfurt's French forward #11 Hugo Ekitike reacts during the German first division Bundesliga football match between 1 FSV Mainz 05 and Eintracht Frankfurt in Mainz, western Germany on May 4, 2025. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
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Eintracht Frankfurt have turned down a club-record £70 million offer from Newcastle United for striker Hugo Ekitike, according to reports confirmed by SoftFootball and first revealed by Sky Sports.
The German club made it clear on Tuesday morning that they are not ready to sell, at least not for that price. Frankfurt reportedly believe other clubs, including Liverpool, are prepared to pay more, and they’re planning to leverage the growing interest to spark a bidding war.
Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
Ekitike, 22, has been on Newcastle’s radar for years. The club previously tried to sign him back in 2022, but the forward opted for Paris Saint-Germain instead. Now at Frankfurt, Ekitike is once again on the radar of Premier League clubs, and Newcastle even met with his representatives in Austria just yesterday.
While the Magpies were hopeful that a big-money offer would finally seal the deal, Frankfurt seem to be holding out for at least £85 million, which they consider the striker’s true market value.
The story of Ekitike is one of sharp development and ambition. Back when he was just breaking through at Stade Reims, AllFootball quoted that then-coach Oscar Garcia revealed they had set a development path for the young attacker by studying the likes of Kylian Mbappé and comparing him to more realistic targets.
“We challenged him to reach the level of two other strikers with similar profiles, but from clubs not as far ahead as PSG,”.
“But within months, he wanted to be at the same level as Mbappé.”
Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Ekitike had spent time on loan in Denmark with Vejle Boldklub and returned to Reims as their fourth-choice striker. That didn’t last long. He forced his way into the starting picture quickly, outgrowing the comparisons his coaches had originally set for him.
“Some coaches thought he was arrogant,” Garcia added. “But he always wanted to be compared with the best.”
That mentality now defines his reputation. And with the Premier League calling again, it’s clear Ekitike’s self-belief and growing value are at the heart of one of the summer’s most intriguing transfer stories.
Adeoluwabori is a seasoned football journalist and web editor with a deep passion for the beautiful game. He brings years of experience in crafting compelling, insightful, football stories that captivate readers and inform fans.
