{"id":290080,"date":"2025-07-25T08:13:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T08:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/290080\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T08:13:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T08:13:16","slug":"arne-slot-aims-dig-at-liverpool-star-as-he-introduces-hugo-ekitike-to-new-team-mates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/290080\/","title":{"rendered":"Arne Slot aims dig at Liverpool star as he introduces Hugo Ekitike to new team-mates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Hugo Ekitike flew out to Hong Kong after completing his \u00a379million transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool &#8211; and Arne Slot had an amusing way to introduce him<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_GettyImages-2226811187.jpg\" alt=\"Arne Slot, head coach and Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool during a pre-season training session \" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Arne Slot introduced Hugo Ekitike to his new Liverpool team-mates(Image: Nikki Dyer\/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Hugo Ekitike has joined up with his new team-mates after flying out to Hong Kong for <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/liverpool-fc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Liverpool<\/a>\u2019s pre-season tour \u2013 and he appeared at ease straight away. <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/breaking-liverpool-transfer-hugo-ekitike-35594425\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Ekitike joined<\/a> after Liverpool agreed a deal worth <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/hugo-ekitike-liverpool-transfer-news-35572202\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">a potential \u00a379million with Eintracht Frankfurt<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">He has signed a six-year contract with the Reds, who moved quickly to land the France under-21 striker after Frankfurt rejected an offer from <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/newcastle-united-fc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Newcastle<\/a>, while <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/manchester-united-fc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Manchester United<\/a> also made a late attempt to sign him. Ekitike has followed Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez to the club during a busy transfer window that has seen <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/how-liverpool-can-afford-120m-35613089\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Liverpool spend \u00a3265m on seven signings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">There have been lots of new faces inside the Liverpool squad this summer as they prepare to defend their <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/premier-league\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Premier League<\/a> title. And the way <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/arne-slot\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Arne Slot<\/a> has tried to make them feel at home was evident in <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Z9QkcWLGvfg&amp;t=41s&amp;ab_channel=LiverpoolFC\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">behind-the-scenes footage<\/a> shared by the club on social media.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Ekitike signed for Liverpool on Wednesday before flying straight to Hong Kong on Thursday. He met his new team-mates at an open training session inside the Kai Tak Stadium, with the cameras there to show their interactions.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/liverpool-potential-lineup-isak-ekitike-35613921\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How Liverpool could line up with Hugo Ekitike AND Alexander Isak as Reds get clear run<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/liverpool-transfer-news-alexander-isak-35613404\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Liverpool transfer news: PSR position explained amid \u00a3120m Alexander Isak interest<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">After shaking hands with many of them, Slot gathered people around to introduce Ekitike, who he first spoke to at the end of the 2024\/25 season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cAs you can see, we have a new player, so we\u2019re hoping he\u2019s the first Frenchman who can score goals for us,\u201d Slot joked while looking around at defender Ibrahima Konate. The other players reacted by shouting \u201cIbou!\u201d, while the camera showed <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/mohamed-salah\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> grinning as he said \u201cwow\u201d repeatedly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">After chatting with Konate, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/cody-gakpo\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Cody Gakpo<\/a> was seen saying: \u201cOh, so you\u2019re happy to have another Frenchman, eh!\u201d Keeping Konate happy could be important for Liverpool after the centre-back\u2019s agitation earlier in the summer.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_GettyImages-2226811202.jpg\" alt=\"Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah \" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Hugo Ekitike met his team-mates for the first time in Hong Kong(Image: Nikki Dyer\/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Back in June, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/ibrahima-konate-liverpool-marc-guehi-35438092\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">reports emerged saying he was \u2018disappointed\u2019<\/a> by the club\u2019s offer of a new contract. His representatives are pushing for higher wages after bumper new deals were handed out to Salah and Virgil van Dijk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Konate, whose current deal expires in June 2026, has been linked with <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/real-madrid-cf\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Real Madrid<\/a>, who have developed a reputation for signing players when they become free agents. Liverpool know that all too well, having lost <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/trent-alexander-arnold\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Trent Alexander-Arnold<\/a> in that fashion this summer, while <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/kylian-mbappe\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Kylian Mbappe<\/a>, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/antonio-rudiger\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Antonio Rudiger<\/a> and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/david-alaba\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">David Alaba<\/a> all arrived in Madrid that way too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">It seems unlikely that Konate would leave this summer, but Liverpool have been eyeing <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/crystal-palace-fc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Crystal Palace<\/a> centre-back Marc Guehi. Currently, though, all the excitement is over Alexander Isak, after the striker <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/breaking-alexander-isak-liverpool-newcastle-35610812\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">told Newcastle he wants to explore his options<\/a> in the transfer market.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Liverpool made an enquiry to Newcastle about Isak last week, before signing Ekitike, and it is understood they could afford the Swedish star, even after a busy summer. With Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott and Luis Diaz all potentially leaving, there are plenty more deals in the pipeline this summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/KpLVIG1AXsd0FvfduhjjzO\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re curious, you can read our <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reachplc.com\/site-services\/privacy-policy\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n<p>This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/affiliates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745298978_502_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a343<\/p>\n<p>\u00a335<\/p>\n<p>Sky<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/cread.php?awinmid=11005&amp;awinaffid=213635&amp;platform=dl&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sky.com%2Fdeals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">Get the deal here<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Sky has slashed the price of its <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/cread.php?awinmid=11005&amp;awinaffid=213635&amp;platform=dl&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sky.com%2Fdeals\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Essential TV and Sky Sports<\/a><\/strong> bundle ahead of the 2025\/26 season, saving members \u00a3192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hugo Ekitike flew out to Hong Kong after completing his \u00a379million transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool &#8211;&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":290081,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[1121,10307,763,1128,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-290080","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-arne-slot","9":"tag-ibrahima-konate","10":"tag-liverpool-fc","11":"tag-mohamed-salah","12":"tag-sports","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114912873932666399","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/290080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=290080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/290080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/290081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=290080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=290080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=290080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}