Liverpool have confirmed that Hugo Ekitike has ruptured his Achilles tendon, ruling him out for the remainder of the season and this summer's World Cup. The 23-year-old striker was stretchered off during the first half of Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final defeat to Paris-Saint Germain on Tuesday.
France coach Didier Deschamps had already indicated the forward would miss the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Liverpool's medical scans now revealing the full extent of the damage. 'Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France,' Liverpool said in a statement.
Ekitike, who joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt for £70m last summer, scored 17 goals in his debut campaign but had struggled to form a partnership with Alexander Isak due to the Swede's own injury problems. Posting on X, Ekitike wrote: '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.'
Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted after the 4-0 aggregate defeat that the injury looked 'really bad', while defender Ibrahima Konate, a team-mate for club and country, said: 'Because with the World Cup coming it is very, very hard for him and I send him my prayers.' Deschamps, who has handed Ekitike eight caps and two goals, said: 'This injury is a huge blow for him, but also for the France team. His disappointment is immense.'
France are drawn in Group I for the World Cup, beginning their campaign against Senegal on 16 June at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where the final will be staged. They also face Iraq and Norway later in the group stage.
