Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has been impressed by Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike since his summer transfer and has singled him out as his most impressive signing
Thierry Henry has singled out his fellow Frenchman Hugo Ekitike as the summer signing that has left him most impressed. The Arsenal legend has been taken aback by the Liverpool forward and has relished watching him showcase his talents at Anfield.
Ekitike arrived at Liverpool in a transfer valued at up to £79million before the Reds secured a record-breaking deal for Alexander Isak. In contrast to his teammate, the 23-year-old has made an immediate impact on Merseyside following his switch.
The ex-Frankfurt striker has netted 10 times in 23 appearances, including seven strikes in 15 Premier League matches. This comes despite periods spent as a substitute and back-up to Isak.
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Henry, who was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025, has been struck by Ekitike’s consistent performances amid Liverpool’s difficulties. Arne Slot’s side currently sit in seventh place in the Premier League despite winning the title last season.
“I’ll go with with Hugo Ekitike, because at the beginning, he had to prove that he could be at Liverpool, and he did,” Henry remarked when questioned about his most impressive signing in his Betway column.
“Now the club is struggling and he’s still delivering. He surprised me. I knew he had that in his locker, but I didn’t know it was going to be that quick in terms of how he adapted. Of course, it’s easier to adapt when a team is rolling.
“But he adapted, then he went on the bench, didn’t say anything, came back and still scores his goals, so you have to put him up there.”
Henry highlighted another young talent who has captured his attention, with Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly impressing this season. The 20-year-old has shown his adaptability under Pep Guardiola’s guidance, earning himself two England call-ups under Thomas Tuchel.
The Arsenal icon has been struck by how the City academy graduate has seized his chances at the Etihad, particularly noting his reliability.
“I would say Nico O’Reilly. I think he’s naturally a central midfielder, I could see he was a bit lost at the beginning, playing on the left and providing the width,” Henry explained.
“Now he’s getting assists and scoring goals. He defends well, he’s understanding the position, and he plays every game as well.”
