Hugo Ekitiké – Player Scouting Report

A scouting report on Ekitiké profile and how he’s rapidly gone on to become one of the most spoken of attacking talents in Europe

Career Overview:

Hugo Ekitike has set the stage alight this season with his impressive performances for Eintracht Frankfurt across all competitions. Amassed 30 goal involvements already – his growth has been a massive influence to Frankfurt’s season who are chasing for silverware

Ekitike was nestled through his hometown side, Stade de Reims in Ligue 1 and spent a couple of initial seasons there. He then made the leap to European heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain. While he managed to be part of promising moments, his stint with the was largely considered underwhelming.

Despite that, he collected consecutive Ligue 1 titles before joining Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2023. Over nearly two seasons in the Bundesliga, the Frenchman’s performances have steadily improved as he chases the global recognition his talent warrants.

Ekitike is a thrilling, direct and dynamic forward who thrives on being involved in every attacking sequence. A magnet on the ball with a progressive mindset, his style of play has made him one of the most talked-about young attackers in Europe this season.

Firstly, let’s look at his player profile:
Age: 22
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Position: CF
Foot: Right
Nationality: France
Value: €53M
Height: 6’4
Avg SofaScore rating: 7.35

Strengths: Positioning, Work Rate, Ball Carrying, Dribbling,
Weaknesses: Aerial Duels, Shot Volume

Playstyle – In Possession:

One of Ekitike’s most impressive qualities as an attacker is his outstanding ball-carrying ability. Averaging 2.85 progressive carries and 1.97 successful take-ons per 90, he glides past challenges using clever positioning and nimble footwork.

If you’d ask Hugo Ekitiké what he does for a living – the answer would be DRIBBLE. Absolute groundbreaking quality that resonates with his entertaining profile. The change of angles, use of hands and the elite spatial awareness whilst running with speed and intensity is superb

His ability to tweak defenders into tackles and swiftly change direction allows him to exploit spaces with intent and frequency. The quickness in shuffling his feet + agility in movements and angles gives him the direct advantage in 1v1s > leading to good shot taking actions

His heatmap and highlight clips often reveal a tendency to drop deep with his back to goal > reflecting his comfort in shielding the ball + holding off defenders. From here he can make half-turns, threading passes into pockets BTL or drive into channels of spaces

His multifaceted skillset on the ball often places him at the heart of creative sequences – a perfect blend of thoughtful dribbles/carries + smart link-up play. Operating as a pass-first forward, who also enjoys executing flashy one-twos, using his bursts of pace to penetrate defences

Passing variance comes with creative risks and not calculative. A major advantage he has is that the output generation has never been limited in any side he’s played for. The limited angle bias and perfect timing of releases in passes enhance his assisting numbers

Box domination comes with maturity in positioning, especially in that of working in the blindside of defenders. The smartly executed movements yearn for a pass – he consistently finds threatening positions and serves a camp in the shadows of defenders to prepare himself for tap ins

Averaging 4.25 shots per90 tell you about his consistency in finding spaces – whether this is a positive/negative would be covered below in the thread. Nevertheless, the techniques in shooting, the variety of finishes (curlers/power shots) make him a lethal dominator

If you want to judge Ekitike, do it when you see him in tight spaces, in and around a crowded box of players exhibiting separation – chaotic, direct and awfully quick in deceiving players. Well equipped to threaten with both feet, although it’s an evolving trait

Playstyle – Out of Possession:

Interestingly, as a striker, his ability to contribute off the ball is reflected in his 0.42 interceptions per90 (93rd percentile)—a testament to his awareness and willingness to press from the front. Retaining and recycling possession has been very positive

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The difference from his out of possession workrate since his move from Reims to PSG and now Eintracht has been massive. The cutting of passing lanes and smart movements of where to run and find the right pressing point is getting better game by game.

Bodily understanding and utilisation of it at the right time makes him a very clever striker – whilst being 6’4. In times of making a quick decision, he’d prepare his body to be a step ahead of the move and orient himself to the likely proceedings

Imposing yourself into multiple aspects of the game comes with maturity, and Ekitike doing this at 22 with minimal experience at the top level deserves applauds. The traits of imposing himself and making himself standout on the pitch always differentiate him from the rest – which is why he’s rated how he is

Areas to Improve:

One glaring aspect is his urgency to shoot. With over 100 shots in the Bundesliga this season, he’s only managed to convert 14, against an xG tally of 19.6. That paints a picture of inconsistent finishing but it’s from a larger perspective of areas for a CF

Many would completely see it as a downside to him fluffing chances with the low conversion rate. But getting into those positions, finding the ball and striking it continuously has its own advantages to the bigger picture of missing chances

This inefficiency also points to his over-reliance on his stronger right foot, which tends to limit his finishing variety. Moreover, he lacks the aerial threat – scoring just once with his head from 11 attempts this season. However, improving.

Although praised for his agility above, Ekitike sometimes lacks the physical strength to handle robust defenders. In small sample scenarios, he has shown a tendency to go down too easily under contact. Core strength and physical resilience are attributes he must enhance if he aims to thrive at the top level.

Player Comparisons:

Ekitike operates as a mobile No. 9, in contrast to the archetype of traditional strikers. He frequently drifts towards the left, prefers attacking diagonally, and drops deep to facilitate play. His style bears a strong resemblance to Joshua Zirkzee, especially during the Dutchman’s time at Bologna.

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Much like Zirkzee who is a deep-dropping, creative forward who prioritizes chance creation over finishing. However, Ekitike arguably carries more direct goal threat and is more inclined to finish off moves himself.

In contrast, a comparison with the in-form Alexander Isak highlights the gap between emerging talent and established world class player – could be safe to compare the Sociedad version. Both forwards tend to drift left, have the height and are very good in 1v1s. However, Isak’s superior game intelligence and decision-making set him apart.

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Conclusion:

Working on some of his deficiencies – decision making, consistency in actions and better overall contributions to games is an obvious choice. Garnering these traits can lead to him fulfilling his potential and breaking through the scenes

For Ekitike, a role in a transition-based system may be the best platform to maximize his potential. With big clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona and Arsenal looking for a gunman in attack – Hugo Ekitike is a name to lookout for this summer!

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