Hugo Ekitike's Road to Recovery from Achilles Injury

Hugo Ekitike has offered a fresh glimpse into his long road back from a ruptured Achilles – and a reminder of what Liverpool are missing.

The 24-year-old striker, who saw his debut season at Anfield cut short in April, is deep into his rehabilitation and now working at the famed Centre Médical de Clairefontaine, the elite facility used by France’s men’s and women’s national teams.

Clairefontaine grind for £79m forward

Clairefontaine’s medical centre shared several images of Ekitike going through his paces as he continues to build back from the serious tendon injury that ended a hugely promising first campaign on Merseyside.

The post, which Ekitike liked and reshared on his Instagram story, carried a pointed caption: “At Clairefontaine, there is the Chateau for national team call-ups... and the Medical Centre for their rehabilitation. Thank you to our Bleus* and Bleues for their trust.”

For Liverpool, it’s a reminder that their £79million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt is still some way from a return, but also that he is progressing through an important phase of his recovery.

Ekitike arrived last summer with a hefty price tag and expectation to match. He responded with 17 goals in all competitions before disaster struck, a ruptured Achilles abruptly halting his momentum and ruling him out for several months.

Surgery followed. Then the slow, unforgiving grind of rehab. Now, at Clairefontaine, the focus is on rebuilding strength and explosiveness in the very area that betrayed him.

Iraola’s stark injury timeline

Andoni Iraola has been careful not to fuel any false hope over the striker’s comeback. During pre-season, the Liverpool manager made clear that Ekitike remains on a long-term track rather than the verge of a return.

“In terms of order, I think the closest one to returning is Giovanni Leoni,” Iraola said in July. “After will be Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike, but especially the last two are still way off. We are talking about months and still a lot of time out.”

That blunt assessment still stands. Liverpool will not rush a player whose game relies so heavily on sharp movements, sudden bursts, and penalty-box instincts.

Not the only long-term absentee

Ekitike is not alone in the treatment room. Liverpool are also without Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, both dealing with serious knee injuries.

Leoni has been sidelined since suffering an ACL injury on his debut last September, a brutal start to life at the club. Bradley joined the long-term list in January when he sustained a knee problem of his own.

Three young players, three big injuries, and three long countdowns.

For Ekitike, the pictures from Clairefontaine show a player edging forward, step by step, towards the moment Anfield can see him again. The question now is not if he will return, but how much of the ruthless edge that delivered 17 goals he can recover when he finally does.