Liverpool, July 22 – Liverpool have made a bold statement of intent with the signing of Hugo Ekitike, who will earn between €15 million and €16 million per year—around £250,000 per week—making him the club’s third-highest earner behind only Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
The 22-year-old French striker is expected to take centre stage in Arne Slot’s revamped attacking setup, stepping into the role previously occupied by Darwin Núñez. Despite Ekitike’s relative lack of top-level experience—having only one 20-goal season to his name—Liverpool are backing him with both responsibility and a salary that places him among the game’s elite forwards.
Ekitike’s arrival signals a clear shift in Liverpool’s attacking strategy, with the club placing significant faith in his potential. Slot is understood to view him as the ideal focal point for his system, with the player’s movement, technical ability, and clinical instincts seen as a strong fit for the Dutchman’s high-pressing, quick-transition style of play.
The sizeable wage package reflects Liverpool’s confidence in Ekitike’s ability to develop into a world-class striker at Anfield. It also underlines the club’s willingness to compete financially with Europe’s top clubs when it comes to securing premium attacking talent.
Other recent arrivals at Liverpool, including German playmaker Florian Wirtz and Dutch full-back Jeremie Frimpong, have been handed weekly wages of £195,000 and £100,000 respectively—solid deals, but notably below Ekitike’s bumper contract.
As Liverpool prepare for the 2025/26 campaign, all eyes will be on Ekitike to deliver. The pressure will be immense, but the message from Anfield is clear: they believe their new No.9 is ready to rise to the occasion.