French football icon Thierry Henry has singled out Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike as the summer signing who has impressed him the most in the Premier League this season.
Ekitike's rapid adaptation at Anfield
The Arsenal legend, who received a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025 ceremony, admitted he has been surprised by the speed of Ekitike's adaptation to life at Liverpool. The 23-year-old French striker joined the Reds in a deal that could be worth up to £79 million, before the club's record move for Alexander Isak.
Despite the club's struggles this term, with Arne Slot's side currently sitting seventh after winning the league last season, Ekitike has consistently delivered. He has scored 10 goals in 23 appearances across all competitions, with seven of those coming in 15 Premier League outings. This impressive return includes a period where he was utilised from the substitutes' bench.
Henry's verdict on the French forward
Speaking in a column for Betway, Henry explained his choice. "I’ll go with Hugo Ekitike, because at the beginning, he had to prove that he could be at Liverpool, and he did," said Henry. "Now the club is struggling and he’s still delivering. He surprised me."
Henry elaborated on what has made the former Eintracht Frankfurt forward's start so notable. "I knew he had that in his locker, but I didn’t know it was going to be that quick in terms of how he adapted. Of course, it’s easier to adapt when a team is rolling," he added. "But he adapted, then he went on the bench, didn’t say anything, came back and still scores his goals, so you have to put him up there."
Manchester City's O'Reilly also earns praise
Henry also highlighted another young talent who has caught his eye this campaign: Manchester City's versatile 20-year-old Nico O'Reilly. The City academy product has broken into Pep Guardiola's first team and earned two England caps under manager Thomas Tuchel.
"I would say Nico O’Reilly," Henry stated. "I think he’s naturally a central midfielder, I could see he was a bit lost at the beginning, playing on the left and providing the width. Now he’s getting assists and scoring goals. He defends well, he’s understanding the position, and he plays every game as well."
The praise from one of the Premier League's greatest-ever forwards underscores the immediate impact Ekitike has made at Anfield, standing out as a bright spot in a challenging season for the Merseyside club.
