Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike Could Switch International Allegiance After Latest France Snub

Hugo Ekitike, having scored three goals in as many games for Arne Slot’s men, has got his Liverpool career off to a flyer – but that wasn’t enough for him to be included in Didier Deschamps’ France squad. As such, reports have suggested that a switch of international allegiance could be on the cards.

Reims-born Ekitike, 23, moved from Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool this summer amid interest from Manchester United and Newcastle United – and he’s expected to lead the line for the reigning Premier League champions moving forward.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Hugo Ekitike is only the fourth Liverpool player to score in both of his two first Premier League games.

Evidently a true goalscoring threat, Ekitike was on target against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield and has also scored in back-to-back Premier League games for the reigning champions. In truth, the striker has been quick to justify his lofty summer price tag.

Ekitike Snubbed by France, International Allegiance Swith on the Cards

France, who have plenty of glittering forwards at their disposal, are facing Ukraine and Ireland in the first international break of the 2025/26 campaign – but Ekitike is, once again, being left at home as Deschamps and Co prepare for the summer showpiece.

In France’s attacking areas are Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Marcus Thuram. It’s been announced, however, that there’s no space for Ekitike – and that could point towards a change in his international allegiance.

Ahead of the French squad being announced, publications in Ekitike’s home country reported that Deschamps is under the assumption that it is ‘too soon’ for the 23-year-old talisman, who plundered 34 goal contributions in all competitions last term.

That’s, of course, not to say Deschamps’ Les Bleus – who won the World Cup in 2018 – will not call upon his services in the near future; but with him itching to play international football, there could be a switch in international allegiance in the offing.

Ekitike could, instead, consider whether to play for Cameroon, a nation he’s eligible to play for, given that his father is of Cameroonian descent. His mother is from France; but both national sides are an option for the centre-forward.

Cameroon’s best effort in the World Cup was in 1990 when The Indomitable Lions lost to England in the quarter-finals. Of African nations, they’ve been fairly consistent as, at the time of writing, they sit second in their 2026 World Cup qualification group behind Cape Verde.

Ekitike playing for Cameroon would be bad news for Liverpool boss Slot and his entourage as he’d been unavailable throughout their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign alongside the club’s talisman-in-chief, Mohamed Salah.

From an international perspective, there is plenty of competition in the attacking areas of France which could, in turn, convince Ekitike into an change in allegiance. He’s played for his nation’s Under-20 side on six occasions but didn’t manage to score.

Under Gerard Baticle at Under-21s level is where Ekitike has shone: in five appearances, he’s score as many goals – and such a return in front of goal could pique the interest of France in the near future. Now, Ekitike has a big decision to make.

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