Liverpool confirm Hugo Ekitike will miss the rest of the season and the 2026 World Cup after rupturing his Achilles tendon in a Champions League defeat.
LONDON: Liverpool have confirmed forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the remainder of the season and the 2026 World Cup.
The 23-year-old suffered a rupture of his Achilles tendon during Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
A club statement said scans confirmed the serious injury. Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for Liverpool’s final weeks and the summer tournament.
France coach Didier Deschamps had already announced the player’s World Cup withdrawal. Deschamps called the injury a huge blow for both Ekitike and the national team.
Ekitike crumpled holding his lower right leg in the first half at Anfield and was substituted. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after the match that the injury looked really bad.
The forward has scored 17 goals in 45 matches since his £79 million move from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. He has also earned eight caps for France, scoring two goals.
Liverpool stated that Ekitike will receive the club’s full support during his recovery. They did not provide a specific timescale for his return to action.
The injury compounds a difficult season for Liverpool, who will finish without a trophy. Slot acknowledged the team has faced many injuries this campaign.
