Équipe de France : l’opération d’Ekitike «s’est bien passée», assure Arne Slot mais la rééducation sera «longue»
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that French striker Hugo Ekitike underwent successful surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain on April 14, 2026.
The injury occurred when Ekitike collapsed unchallenged while bearing weight on his right leg, immediately clutching the back of his ankle before being stretchered off in tears at Anfield. Subsequent medical evaluation confirmed the worst fears: a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon requiring operative intervention.
Speaking to reporters on April 24, 2026 — ten days after the injury and following the procedure — Slot provided the first official update on Ekitike’s condition. “The operation went well,” the Liverpool head coach stated, emphasizing that the surgical intervention represented a critical first step in what will be an extensive recovery process.
However, Slot was quick to temper optimism with realism regarding the timeline ahead. “In a rehabilitation process this long, You’ll see many crucial steps to complete before we can truly say ‘it will capture this many months or that many months,'” Slot explained, underscoring the variable nature of tendon healing and functional restoration.
The Liverpool manager noted that despite the successful surgery, it remains premature to project a return date for Ekitike, who is already confirmed to miss France’s 2026 World Cup campaign. Specialists consulted by multiple outlets agree that recovery from such an injury typically spans several months, with the ultimate outcome heavily dependent on how the rehabilitation progresses.
Slot acknowledged the particular challenges posed by this injury type for a player of Ekitike’s explosive athletic profile. “He’s a very explosive player, and generally this isn’t an ideal injury to have. But maybe he’ll be the exception — we simply don’t know yet,” the Dutch coach admitted, reflecting the uncertainty inherent in predicting recovery trajectories for high-demand musculotendinous injuries.
Prior to his injury, Ekitike had enjoyed a standout season with Liverpool, contributing 17 goals and six assists across all competitions. His absence represents a significant blow to both club and country, particularly as France prepares for its home World Cup campaign later this year.
The confirmation of Ekitike’s World Cup unavailability adds to the growing list of absences for Didier Deschamps’ squad as the tournament approaches. While the French Football Federation has not issued an official statement on the matter, multiple verified sources have reported the player’s exclusion from contention due to the severity and recovery timeline of his Achilles rupture.
As Ekitike begins the lengthy rehabilitation process, the focus now shifts to managing expectations and ensuring a complete recovery rather than rushing a return. For Liverpool, the loss of their leading scorer complicates attacking plans for the remainder of the season, while for France, it removes a promising option from Deschamps’ attacking arsenal ahead of what was expected to be a pivotal tournament on home soil.
The next confirmed checkpoint in Ekitike’s recovery will be the first post-operative assessment, typically scheduled 10-14 days after surgery to evaluate wound healing and initiate early mobilization protocols. No further updates have been announced by Liverpool Medical Department as of this reporting.
What does this mean for fans hoping to see Ekitike return to action this season? Based on current medical understanding of Achilles tendon recoveries, even with optimal rehabilitation, a return before late summer 2026 would be highly unusual for a professional athlete requiring sprinting and cutting movements.
Stay tuned to Archysport for verified updates on Hugo Ekitike’s rehabilitation progress as information becomes available from official club and medical sources.
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