Hugo Ekitike’s decision to opt for Paris Saint-Germain instead of Newcastle United has raised some questions. Mathieu Lacour, the director of Stade de Reims, has indicated that Ekitike might have been better off joining Newcastle instead of the reigning Ligue 1 champions. He pointed to Newcastle’s Champions League qualification and the success of Alexander Isak at the club as evidence of this.
Newcastle had broken their transfer record to sign Isak from Real Sociedad for £63 million, after Ekitike turned down the opportunity to join them twice in January and June 2022. Instead, Ekitike chose to make an initial loan move to PSG, which was later made permanent for £29 million during the summer transfer window. Newcastle had reportedly agreed to a £26 million transfer fee with Reims, but the deal fell apart due to agent demands.
Ekitike’s 2022-23 season at PSG was challenging, with him scoring only four goals in 32 appearances, most of which were as a substitute.
PSG had attempted to sell the 21-year-old over the summer, but he declined the chance to join Eintracht Frankfurt, despite Premier League interest from clubs like West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.
Ekitike’s decision to stay at PSG has proven to be costly, as he has been excluded from the first-team setup and left out of the Champions League squad. He had to watch his team’s 4-1 defeat to Newcastle at St James’ Park from his living room.
Looking back on the move, Reims director Lacour told Le Club des 5, “We never had as many scouts interested in Ekitike. We had never seen so many clubs pursue a player. It was remarkable. Choosing PSG was his decision, along with that of his agent. Perhaps another project would have allowed him to showcase his talents better.”
After missing out on Ekitike, Newcastle finished fourth in the Premier League and secured a Champions League spot for the first time in over two decades. Lacour added, “When I see Newcastle, who made a strong effort to sign him in January and June, and when you see how Isak has thrived at Newcastle, perhaps we would be talking about Hugo in the same way we talk about Isak today. It’s a matter of career choice, and I’m not criticizing what he did. Being French and playing alongside Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe… I can understand his decision.”