Paris Saint-Germain have beaten competition from Newcastle United to secure the services of French forward Hugo Ekitike. The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakout season with Reims in 2021/22.
Ekitike has had top clubs around Europe follow him for the last half year. The player rejected a move to Newcastle United to sign for the Parisians instead. The youngster’s current deal sees him join the Parsiains on an initial loan deal, which could be made permanent next summer for 30 million euros because of an option to buy.
Speaking to the PSG website for the first time, Ekitike revealed his Parisian roots as a key motivator behind his choice to stay in France – instead of leaving for a foreign adventure.
“My heart chose Paris! I am also French, it is the club from my country. And it’s a club where the greatest players play, where there is a quality and experienced staff, and the desire to win all the trophies in all the competitions. There is everything here for me to improve.
“All the ingredients are here, so it’s a logical choice for me to be here. Finally, I myself have family in the Paris region and I have always followed Paris Saint-Germain. All this makes it very natural for me to want to join this club. It’s the right choice for me to be here!”
Ekitike said.
Ekitike, who spent half of the 2020/21 season on loan at Danish side Vejle Bk, returned to his boyhood club Reims in the summer of 2021 to join the senior side. He made 27 appearances across the 2021/22 season for the Ligue 1 outfit and scored 11 goals.
The 20-year-old striker becomes PSG’s second signing of the summer after Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, whom the club signed earlier from FC Porto. The Parisians, now under the guidance of advisor Luis Campos, also remain interested in Lille’s Renato Sanches and Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar.
