Not Isak: Only Two Players Scored Higher in Liverpool’s Data Tests Than Hugo Ekitike

It's official, Liverpool have got their new number nine. Hugo Ekitike was confirmed as a new arrival by the Premier League champions on Wednesday evening after a short saga involving himself and Newcastle United frontman, Alexander Isak.

Reports emerged last week that Arne Slot's men were interested in a £100 million+ move for the Swedish forward, with Ekitike even being lined up as his replacement at St James' Park. However, the Eintracht Frankfurt star has ended up at Anfield, and is now looking to stamp his authority as the Reds' leading man.

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In a transfer that can reach £79 million with add-ons, the French talisman becomes one of the most expensive strikers in football history, adding an element of pressure to his 23-year-old shoulders. But what convinced the Liverpool decision-makers that Ekitike was the man to play alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz in the red shirt?

Hugo Ektike Beats Alexander Isak in Liverpool's Data Tests

The Frenchman blew almost every striker out of the water

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In the modern football world, data and analytics are everything. Especially when it comes to transfers that aren't too far off the £100 million mark. Liverpool are renowned for their data model, which picked out Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and many others as suitable targets in years gone by.

Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have had a busy summer, and contact with Ektike and his camp is said to have been initiated as far back as January. This just shows the level of background work that goes on to make these deals happen.

Slot is said to have confirmed his decision to bring Ekitike to Anfield at the end of the title-winning season. One of the biggest factors in that call was the impressive data gathered on the Frenchman. The ex-Paris Saint-Germain striker was only beaten by two No.9s in the Reds' data search.

Isak wasn't one of them. Instead, Manchester City juggernaut Erling Haaland and Ektike's former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe were the only two strikers on the planet to outperform the 23-year-old statistically, according to Daily Mail reporter Lewis Steele.

Despite netting an impressive 23 Premier League goals in only 34 appearances last season, Ekitike thrived in other areas and came out on top between the two. That should be every reason for excitement among the Anfield faithful for the new signing, who will now join his new teammates on their pre-season tour.

Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 23-07-25.

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