France boss decision on Hugo Ekitike call-up revealed

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The French national team coach has decided to call up Hugo Ekitike to the senior France squad following the injury of Rayan Cherki. Cherki, who joined Manchester City in June 2025, suffered a torn left quadricep muscle and is expected to be sidelined for approximately two months, ruling him out of upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Hugo Ekitike, the Liverpool striker who recently transferred from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported fee of €80 million, has been in impressive form. He scored in each of his first three games for Liverpool and has made a strong case for his inclusion in the national team by demonstrating his goal-scoring ability at the Premier League level.

Previously, Ekitike had been part of France’s youth teams and made his senior debut on 5 September 2025 during a World Cup qualifying match against Ukraine, coming off the bench in a 2-0 win. His call-up comes as a direct replacement for the injured Cherki, offering France additional attacking options for the crucial World Cup qualifying fixtures.

This decision underscores the confidence coach Didier Deschamps has in Ekitike's potential and current form. The young striker’s quick adaptation to Liverpool and record of scoring underline his readiness for international duties, as France prepares to maintain their strong position in the World Cup qualifiers.

Ekitike’s rise continues as he transitions from a successful Bundesliga stint with Eintracht Frankfurt—where he scored 15 goals in 33 league games and was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season in 2024–25—to becoming an integral part of the French national team squad.