☁️✨CLOUD 9: Hugo Ekitike

E-Ticket to Ride?

The Temptations released “Cloud 9” in 1969, produced by Motown, introducing psychedelic soul to the musical landscape.

Let’s see how much that series proves to be a figment of imagination once Chelsea figure out they can’t afford to budge from the competitive wage and cycle to work scheme (to buddy up with Wesley Fofana?) package offered to Gyökeres, Šeško and Delap. To the biggest disappointment of their respective agents more than Chelsea fans in general. And once Emanuel Emegha embraces his footballing destiny to join Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.

No matter which way you look at him, Hugo Ekitike is a good striker.

Not only because Ekitike is a palindrome - regardless if you read it from right to left or the other way round, you’ll get the same output. Instead of rounding up a generic player dossier because it’s not my job and he won’t join Chelsea anyway (happy to be proved wrong) ; let’s take a different perspective.

I like Hugo Ekitike because

• the variety of his long runs makes him difficult to predict

• he’s a cold blooded assassin in the box, toe poke extraordinaire

• his box movement isn’t just textbook, it’s ruthless

• he can carry and take on people

• he looks gangly, but is actually extremely agile

• one of the strongest players to use his body weight and maintain his stance to create his way without being knocked off the ball

• He’s tall, can jump and win a headder

• His unopposed heading game in the box is good

• He’s a selfless presence who will create goalscoring chances for team mates

More importantly : he’s a false scouting negative, and was discarded for a bit - and not once - don’t put a ceiling on wounded animals. Olivier Giroud, Jean Philippe Mateta.

Early 2000s France craved about Henry-Trézeguet strike partnership.

The best complement we can make to Hugo Ekitike is that his game is reminiscent of the carries Henry graced European pitches with, and the goalscoring know-how David Trézeguet displayed in the box

I’m familiar with Hugo Ekitilke since 2018-19 when I heard good reviews of his profile but notably, a quite unique finishing skill. Back then, Hugo Ekitike was U17, told to go get minutes for the struggling U19s whilst the U17s were trying very hard to qualify for the U17 playoffs in the East seed. Storytelling and all that.

I signed two of Ekitike’s strike partners for my U19 side in 2019-20 and 2020-21, as well as a defender who played against him in French Youth Cup 2018-19

Coaching at U19 National Level during a Pandemic

North and Western France National Seeds

I was then coaching at Academy level at QRM in Normandy (in the northen seed)

So having faced PSG U17s earlier that 2018-19 season :

Edouard Michut (now Sunderland) and Thierno Baldé are some players I remember from the game sheet as we drew 1-1 and 2-2 on the way to safety in one of the toughest U17 seeds.

Tidjany Chabrol Touré was #10 and recently turned professional, and drew a straight red card from a contactless tackle if you want a general idea of how games are refereed at this level. They’re pictured above.

I also watched the U17 World Cup in October 2019 held in Brazil.

where France eventually bottled a 2-0 lead to Brazil in the semi-final to lose 3-2, featuring Timothée Pembele and Adil Aouchiche (just volleying everything top bins off a striker making his best Tim Cahill / Kevin Nolan impression - now also at Sunderland/loaned at Portsmouth).

They finished 3rd, also featuring Rutter, Agoume, Mbuku, Kalimuendo, Enzo Millot and many others. This is a sequence vs Spain hat I had to micro-analyse as part of the first part of my French Advanced Youth Award : prepare a session to adress the game problem.

I also follow football through these French NT sides that are hard to dislike, just for the mere thrill to throw wild guesses as where they’d end up a few years later, and perpetually refining frameworks.

Many clubs actually sign players who feature in these competitions anyway

I moved to Laval in December 2019 to take charge of the U19s as full time, becoming in the process the youngest Head Coach in the country at National U19 level

Coaching against players I was watching on TV barely one month prior like Georginio Rutter (now Brighton)or Brandon Soppy.

My disappointment of crashing out in the French Youth Cup in extra time of the fourth round in January 2020 was sort of mitigated by the fact the competition was curtailed in the Quarter Finals in the infamous March 2020 anyway.

Stade de Reims was still in the Round of 16 as of February 2020 and faced PSG’s star studded squad.

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I came across that game on YouTube during the lockdowns at Spring 2020.

Keeping busy during Lockdown I

Laval lost their Academy status at the end of 2018-19

But not their pull - so they’d be a household name in kind of a “Category 4” status (for the English equivalent).

In the mid-2010s he club saw the rise of players such as Nordi Mukiele (Leipzig, PSG), Oumar Solet (OL, Udinese) and Serhou Guirassy (Rennes, Stuttgart, Dortmund) signed from Paris (or countryside grassroots for the latter).

However, due to the loss of Academy status ; contracts were null and void as of June 2019 and a dozen of top players departed as free agents.

Brentford’s Yoane Wissa’s brother being one of them.

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With 45 players for three teams (16 per game sheet) in 2019-20 ; still finishing 5th in the seed.

and my (successful) push to create a shadow U18 team (I could sell an ice cream to a polar bear with a PowerPoint) ; we’d need a dozen new players across the U18-U19-B team ahead of 2020-21

So we filtered through hundred of player CVs.

Amusingly, including Fally Mayulu’s : 2002-born CF released by Lens in the summer 2020 - 6ft5 and older brother of Seny (2006) who scored PSG’s 5th goal in the 2025 Champions League final.

Whilst the first week of lockdown was fun (I bought FM and drove very fast on GTA; to rest after 3 whirlwind months), the second and third week were fucking brutal like it was for many people.

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I *won* the Ligue 1 2026 to break PSG’s stranglehold.

With a Conor Gallagher (captain) / Xavi Simons midfield two.

Jérémie Frimpong and Arthur Zagré as fullback, 6ft4 (combined).

Oumar Solet, Bridge Ndilu back at the club and turning into the 5 star players people saw back in their time.

And some good players as far as FM2020 was involved : Yehvann Diouf, Pierre Ekwah

French internationals Soppy and Mbuku. Arthur Zagré winning penalties for fun.

And Marcus Edwards ; who I sign non stop since FM 2015. Giving me the regular cognitive dissonance that he actually exists for real.

Pretty sure I had Ekitike at the end of the bench (or on a plasic chair) on the virtual Football Manager e-bench.

Structurally ; one winger who cuts inside to pass, one wide striker. Here swapped because I rotated the last game. Mbuku/Edwards and Geubbels on the left.

Lockdown was jarring, especially as I’d have to find people to argue with.

So I decided to pennypinch and lowball… myself ;

“I asked you to make an acceptable proposal, which hasn’t been the case. I therefore don’t see the point of pursuing discussions”

Then I was like ; well, let’s just get into it (that is: real life recruitment for my job) because realistically I’d have nothing else to do.

Read player CVs, watch kilometers of film ranging from snapchat of overhead kicks on community pitches, 250 MB unnanounced dumps of video on WhatsApp, to HD footage sent by agents (from the club video database that nobody watched until the player was released). And incessant phone calls from agents promising they’ve got an extraordinary player who’s out of a club.

But also, trying to find players, or just curiosity to see what some players would be about to scale up the levels.

Coupe Gambardella 4th Round 2020

That’s the game sheet :

Reims’ #11 left Laval in summer 2019 after banging 20 goals at U17 level, and eventually played the 2023 Maurice Revello / Toulon Tournament with Chelsea’s Datro Fofana in 2023.

#4 and #10 were on extended scouting shortlists in case they’d be released.

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#13 was one we tracked for a while, a ridiculous Raheem Sterling-like livewire that we eventually signed in October 2020.

Sofiane, third from the left, back row for Reims in 2019 then signing in 2020

Hugo Ekitike is seen here standing, difficult to notice (he’s the tallest player).

There comes a point where clubs not “hoard” but keep players around “just in case”, but don’t mind writing off the last year of contract (in which case they don’t claim compensation) when players are stranded in limbo between U18-B team.

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One player on the bench at PSG had rave reviews and joined U19 Champions Angers that summer to turn professional straightaway (left); I taunted my own player to win his indivudal battle. Which he did for a 4-0 win in October 2020 the following season.

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In 2018-19 ; Hugo Ekitike was U17 and played with the National U19s

In 2019-20 ; Hugo Ekitike was U18 and played with the Regional U18s

In 2020-21 ; Hugo Ekitike played 80 minutes in Ligue 1, and then got himself a loan at Vejle Boldklub in Denmark. A… bold career move to just get minutes and bang goals.

The lad doesn’t just know where to go inside the penalty box, but where he wants his career to take him.

Which is why I highly doubt he’ll take a 8 year contract with incentive under the cloud of getting banned to play competitions where he can get said incentives - like Cole Palmer who’s UEFA Conference League club ban worked wonders from a statistical and confidence standpoint (no goal between December and May) but also accounting wise (no match bonus to pay, wages are a waste of money, find me dumber players).

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Let’s take the perspective of someone watching him from that game onwards :

Before the throw-in is played, take a stance on the realistic drop point, stiff arm to push the defender (see the shoulder point moving backwards)

Push as the ball gets up in the air

Resulting in a clean headed flick with opponent having to recover their balance

Let’s not fable over this, this is literally opening 10 seconds vs PSG.

Ekitike also works very hard off the ball, which is usually the legacy/situation of gangly strikers who get side-eyed (by people who don’t know) for their “lack of coordination” (people unfortunately tend to accidentally grow up between 10 and 20, as many inches their centre of gravity moves up), sort of forcing them to “make up for it” and “work hard”. Most of it is underlying, up in the air.

But it translated nicely througout his career.

Principles are valid when nobody’s looking. There were lots of eyes on that game but like not a full assembly. Academy pitch, handrail, and USB stick / Huddle logins going around.

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Standard channel ball, when the winger nicks it

Ekitike jumps on his toes, gets around the penalty spot.

Repeatable striker behaviour that gets goals down the line

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Unforced error and Reims recovery

Ekitike is going around the CBs to ask diagonally in behind

Running the channel as pressure relief outlet

The Harry Kane area - usually to draw a foul

“dump and go away”

How to show into feet :

Curvilinear run, pulling defenders away

Cut on his right and point towards the open window - not exploited. Watch the games

Unhappy with the 10’s hospital backpass that ends up for a corner

But still the first to get on duty and defend the 6yd box

Breeze

Probably Ekitike’s highlight of the day, breezing past opponents

Because he stayed connected to his midfielders

That diagonal carry is interesting with a flip flap (or flap flip?) to get inside-outside in the right timing when defenders land a foot flat. The slight split second to delay to then attack their achiles heel

I liked that touch a lot, reminiscent of the very best dribblers who can always make that extra touch before being tackled

The delay before getting a longer touch is impressive too, dribbling plastic cones only get you so far (one more round)

Reading the room and delaying your move is the incertitude that’s created for the defender who freezes as a result

See ya

And a powerful shot off a carry, even if that flies over the bar.

Variety of movement in behind

One thing to like about Ekitike, is that because he didn’t always play in dominant teams, he has to move into space and make the most out of every play.

Not a case of “can’t be arsed to make a channel run” or “not gonna run the channel, let the play break down and I’ll get a better chance soon” that sometimes plague the academy striker’s mindset

Ball is on the way to be played out, PSG are delaying it

Ekitike runs the channel to cause a problem to solve to his CB

But as his team mate receives, Ekitike changes his mind

Now goes around the CB - away from the carrier

The stuff you want the striker to do, stretch the CB between the two

Possibly time to ask in behind.

However, that stating position leads him at the corner flag

So he makes another step towards his left

• to have a better angle to make his diagonal run

• better area to receive at the end

• stretch the defensive cover / staggering

That run between the CBs is difficult to track, forces the CBs to communicate

Summary : lots of situational adaptations to

come from the ball (relief outlet) initially ; then get away from the ball carrier

then creating the right angle for a diagonal run

We also liked the shot drilled between GK and defenders, just shoot instead of a cute cross that’s easily turned into a pass by the CB not breaking a sweat

Striker mindset : go against the flow

Carrier goes left shoulder, Ekitike runs across right shoulder.

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Another instance moments later :

Get away from the ball carrier keeps attacking moves alive and shows trust to team mate. This is counter intuitive (to anyone who has never played ball)

Look at Ekitike getting exactly on the blind spot (mentioned every newsletter) on the edge of the CB’s field of vision

CB has to follow proceedings

Therefore can’t know when Ekitike triggers his run

We also like the intent to shot in his stride, this is blocked but on another day it deflects between the legs and goes in

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Dominating a lose ball with a pass with the sole / studs. if it works, it’s not stupid

And ready to spin and run in behind

Hook run to create separation

A matter of timing. 3-4 players to keep busy, don’t stand in the heart of it (otherwise players squeeze in and the space disappears)

Run to his left shoulder

Cut and set a stance : left leg strong, arms to prevent the defenders to either push him (can’t lower his arms) here (or lift his arms).

Is he technical enough? Looks a bit stiff?

Bambi on ice with a clean instep layoff at an angle whilst under pressure.

That’s football specific movement / agility / strength.

Another instance of a long “curvilinear” run

Getting around the CBs

Get awau from the carrier, CBs don’t know if they need to mark him or protect the space

Diagonal run, and it takes the second CB to step in and intercept that run between the CBs.

All about timing the starting point, adjusted dynamcally to see the passer and goal, and receiving between the CBs

Hugo Eflitike

Technique is the tool for a skill. Ekitike is highly “technical” in the way he can flick the ball for team mates

Another change of direction, pushing to the backline

to then come short

A nice flick for a give and go.

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Gamemanship and stiff arm

Start from between the CBs, off his field of vision and far enough that can’t be grabbed

Use the stiff arm, coming from behind to stay in front in case the left back perceives the pass

Defensive workrate

For sure, a game to impress vs PSG - for a player then off a relegation in U19 league (with a tragic team), and stranded in U18 Regional.

Ekitike was active to disrupt deep midfielders receiving.

He can run, for long, and isn’t clamping people every two seconds with his long limbs

Shoulder/shoulder vs Xavi Simons

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Comes in the jewell Sofiane Kara - a (many) carat talent signed by Reims in 2016 by - then Academy Director - David Guion. Who then led Reims to a 7th place finish with Edouard Mendy in Ligue 1 in 2020.

Who eventually signed for my team in 2020 - more on that.

Run the channels

Nothing wrong with complaining about service, Academy fullbacks have to be able to bend a pass around the corner.

See Ekitike’s stance, to use his arm to keep the defender away

Strong right leg, side on

Pressure relief

Multitasking with a clean release, which is usually seen as a challenge by more seasoned tall strikers.

Sharing the ball in attack

Ekitike stands out by how selfless he is in attack - let alone for someone who knows where the goal is, and will think about scoring.

Few “poachers” would square it” for a 3v2

Backheel

Ekitike showed off half a dozen backheels

Ekitike x Kara

Both Sofiane and Hugo Ekitike had two identical plays back to back, after coming on.

Sofiane nominally left wing, cutting inside (with the 13):

Up and back, for a shot from range.

Situation 1 : clean layoff to set up Sofiane

Situation 2 : good stance to keep balance, and set up Sofiane again.

Connectiké?

A sharp pass for a player in front. Good technical base, usually “tall poachers” don’t have it. Think Peter Crouch, don’t think I’ve ever seen him pass the ball forward

A good separation movement to receive.

A smart backheel, without falling over

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Separation movement to receive

Strikers who don’t always play in dominant teams know where to find space to maximise opportunities to get on the ball

The touch is quality

Sofiane - Hugo combination

A good spin to stay on the ball - that’s agility

Ekitike carries

The things that will put scouts on alert, is how good Ekitike is to carry the ball at pace.

There was an instance earlier of adding one more touch

Diagonal carry

Same here, with a delay to release to flat foot the defender

And quickly chop the ball and the pass to his left

Sofiane and Sofiane

I signed two of Hugo Ekitike’s strike partners : Sofiane and Sofiane

The first one joined midway through 2019/20 and scored after 4’ on his debut in a local derby. Mentioned here

That’s Sofiane (2001) inFrench Youth Cup 2018-19, with Hugo Ekitike (9)

An extraordinary needle support striker, able to find an opening when he wasn’t kicked off the park. The kind of player you just enjoy seeing shooting at goal.

The other Sofiane (2002) joined at the start of 2020-21 ;

He played with Hugo Ekitike in regional U18 in 2019-20

Finding himself U19 in 2020-21 (not eligible for the U18s anymore, and battling with countless pros that had to justify their earnings in Pro 2) ; we could sign him in September 2020

Sofiane is a livewire in attack and I was eager to see him getting back to full fitness to do that kind of stuff :

This is the video I made as part of the player dossier

Devant le but, bah ça fait mouche

"Right in front of the goal, well, it hits the mark!" said in the dorkiest way possible by Hugo Ekitike

Analysing his first goal in Ligue 1

Get blind side of the defender

Dart in front when the cross is hit

Cross doesn’t connect, but is recovered by Ilan Kebbal

who knocks past first time, see Ekitike already darting at the near post whilst defenders are still flat footed

with a finish that brushes the ball, for the exact output desired, with the left foot removed enough to not be hit

These two elements are : finishing skill

• timing of box movement

• solutioning to use the right surface to get the desired effect

This is repeatable, therefore there’s no need to predict the Euromillion numbers with scoreboard narratives that depend on a data provider’s xG model.

Reims provided a nice little video with Kebbal and Ekitike walking us through the goal.

An opportunity to hear Ekitike’s distinct articulation.

My take on Hugo Ekitike

I like Hugo Ekitike because

• the variety of his long runs makes him difficult to predict

• he’s a cold blooded assassin in the box, toe poke extraordinaire

• his box movement isn’t just textbook, it’s ruthless

• he can carry and take on people

• he looks gangly, but is actually extremely agile

• one of the strongest players to use his body weight and maintain his stance to create his way without being knocked off the ball

• He’s tall, can jump and win a headder

• His unopposed heading game in the box is good

• He’s a selfless presence who will create goalscoring chances for team mates

There’s enough full compilations of what he does for Frankfurt, and enough uninformed savants who probably didn’t watch enough Popeye / Looney Tunes cartoons to grasp that top athletes usually go above and beyond the generic clichés of “tall therefore stiff”, “poacher therefore selfish”

I think Ekitike would play for any team in the world, because he gets goals from any type of cross. His layoff game is sound and sharp technically, and he’s one of the strongest players relative to his frame. His carries / chance creation offer something that’s either a throwback to the very greats (Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry) or something the tactico still can’t proceed.

The point of that angle was to show that Ekitike was always about what he does in 2025, he had a somewhat less linear pathway but still debuted and scored goals at 18 in Ligue 1.

Here he is, profiled by David Astorga who hosted a few shows I did on CANAL+ a decade ago. With some snippets of who’s his favourite player, idol, haircut, club, stadium etc… with a few surprises.

I like Alexander Isak since I’ve seen him vs Spain

I think ISAK has a finishing craft, he will place shots in corners but this is fairly academic to me. I don't find the edge to hurt goalkeepers

I think he Is a better wall pass 9 to pass backwards

Unopposed headers are more accurate, and longer reach

And also shares the quality of 9 movement across the front and in behind.

Data Room

Ekitike does a lot of things ; flick, creating chances, carries.

He’s the player who gets the most shots on target amongst his U23 counterparts, whilst being at the reasonable intersection between shooting on sight and actually doing so.

Ekitike won’t win the “Joao Felix” Trophy of scoring the 6th goal in a 6-0 win

His goals unlock, and win games.

Ekitike isn’t a palindromic shooter, has a tendency to shoot with his right.

With attacking team mates having departed the club, he has more responsibility to get shots.

Shooting from service doesn’t suggest a “carry job” ; but more an ability to be visible to receive.

Do you change the picture on the pitch?

Ekitike has over three progressive carries per 90, and also receives 8 progressive passes per game. He’s an outlier

Ekitike makes things happen in final third

An outlier for getting touches in final third (I’m happy if my striker gets 20 final touches per game in final third).

Jackson has 14 touches in attacking third per game, less than last season (the Maresca effect).

Let alone with nearly 2 take-on completed per 90.

See Emegha, seems like he’s just tall.

Another angle, positoing Ekitike in the “shooters” but not just.

Ekitike is a selfless player, and will assist team mates

0.2 assists per 90 ; that’s 8 for the season which is a lot for a striker.

2 progressive passes suggests he’s not dropping off the front to lay the ball back 1 yard like Kai Havertz, he will actually get the ball going forward

The sweet spot between U23s who score and assist.

A similar theme when it comes to having a robust output. if you get shots on target, that’s generally fine. If you’re a shit finisher, team mates will stop giving you the ball or you’ll stop shooting from y

OK is a stick man taking a nap. If you didn’t notice, now you do. OK.

Flip your phone if you still don’t get it.

Shot creating actions : Ekitike appears as an outlier once again

When it comes to defensive workrate ; Hugo Get It Back actually has better defensive metrics than “defensive workhorse / knows Joe Shields” Delap.

A few radars

Ekitike for his breakout season for Reims

Moving to PSG where Messi / Mbappé / Neymar would quibble on the zones to occupy whilst the head coach would tell journalists PSG would travel to away games via sand yacht after they asked why would they take a domestic flight to make a commute they could do by train.

Ekitike probably messed about with the wrong nepo-brother and got in the blind side of the highest earner. Shit happens.

Luis Campos signing, the man doesn’t miss. Wrong timing

Bomb-squadded for 6 months because he wouldn’t jump blindly in the easyjet to organise Randal Kolo-Muani’s transfer the other way round.

Loaned to Frankfurt in the second part of 2023-24

Because it has people talking.

Eddie Howe and Newcastle wanted Ekitike early 2022.

Ekitike wanted to finish the season, and wasn’t really arsed to join the Premier League’s 18th place side

Reims was asking for 50+ million, so they turned their sights on the backup plan… Alexander Isak.

Some snapshots at the same age - different league

If we look at Isak’s current season vs Ekitike’s. 1999 vs 2002

Three years younger, outperforming him on most metrics.

Penny-pinching - shame he’s not managed by the acolytes.

Some tea leave reading

Some early shots, possibly because Eintracht play more on the counter and he wants to take early shots.

That seem rather healthy : 1.25 shots per game in prime location and creating enormous value with the goal in font of him.

“the golden zone” is the extension of goalposts towards the penalty spot.

At career level:

If we look at the shots saved (blue), blocked (purple) and missed (red) we see there’s a cluster of shots with the goal on his left with volume and not so much success

More red, with some shots flying over like the one vs PSG

On the other hand, goal on his right has more spots of blue (SOT) for the Henry finish that goes on target.

If we look at goals and shots saved, that looks like a prime location to score.

The other cluster right of the penalty spot (goal slightly on the left) is level with the near post with room to adjust the space the GK can’t control (under his arms)

Some more data drivel digging, which is like putting cheese on melon at this stage to see how it tastes.

Carries in Opp Box vs SoT ; Ekitike appears at the intersection of the goalscorers (Muniz, Duran) and the guys who get the ball in the box (Doku, Noni, Barcola)

Michael Olise creates a lot of xA ; Jhon Duran gets a lot of SOT.

In the middle, Barcola or Ekitike seem to be able to do a bit of both