Ekitike Earns First France Call-Up as Injury Replacements Shake Up Squad
The striker has quickly made an impression at Anfield, having found the net three times in as many competitive matches prior to Sunday's fixture against Arsenal.
Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool’s recent signing, has received his first-ever call-up to the French national team, stepping in for the injured Rayan Cherki, according to an announcement made by the French Football Federation (FFF) on Sunday.
The striker has quickly made an impression at Anfield, having found the net three times in as many competitive matches prior to Sunday’s fixture against Arsenal. Ekitike joined Liverpool during the summer transfer window, arriving from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
At 23 years old, Ekitike already boasts a strong track record with the France Under-21 team, having scored five goals across five appearances during the previous season.
His selection helps address a vacancy at the centre-forward role—a spot national coach Didier Deschamps has been working to solidify following Olivier Giroud’s retirement from international football. Despite his early-season form, Ekitike was not initially named in the squad Deschamps released for France’s first two 2026 World Cup qualifiers: an away fixture against Ukraine in Poland on Friday and a home match against Iceland on September 9 in Paris.
Cherki’s absence stems from a muscle injury sustained prior to Manchester City’s Premier League clash on Sunday. The FFF confirmed the midfielder is dealing with a “torn left quadriceps.”
“He’s out for two months or so,” City boss Pep Guardiola stated following his team’s 2-1 loss to Brighton on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembele, who netted twice for Paris Saint-Germain in their Ligue 1 win over Toulouse on Saturday, was seen clutching his left hamstring as he exited the field.
“I felt a little discomfort at the end, just before coming off. I’m going to have an MRI scan. We’ll see what’s wrong. But I don’t think it’s that serious. I think it’s just a precaution,” Dembele told the Ligue 1 television channel.
France also faces uncertainty in its defensive line. William Saliba, absent from the Nations League Final Four in June, was forced off just five minutes into Arsenal’s encounter with Liverpool after a clash involving Ekitike.
Adding to the growing list of injury concerns, Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, another member of the French squad, left the pitch limping in the 79th minute of the same match.
