Wayne Rooney names Hugo Ekitike Premier League’s best summer signing

Wayne Rooney has delivered a glowing verdict on Hugo Ekitike, hailing the Liverpool striker as the best signing of the summer transfer window after another decisive contribution at the weekend. The France international continued his prolific start to life on Merseyside by scoring his 11th goal of the season in Liverpool’s 2-1 win away to Tottenham Hotspur.

Ekitike’s header underlined his growing importance to Liverpool as they gather momentum in the title race. Signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m, the 22-year-old has now opened a sizeable gap over the club’s next-highest Premier League scorer, Cody Gakpo, who has four league goals this term.

Speaking on his BBC podcast, Wayne Rooney was unequivocal in his praise.

“He’s been one of, if not the best, signing in the Premier League,” Rooney said. “The pressure on him must have been huge because he cost quite a bit of money. With Liverpool bringing Wirtz in and Isak as well, there was a huge amount of pressure on him to try and get in the team.

“He’s been the most consistent for them in terms of scoring goals and his overall play has been really good. And he’s playing with a bit of an attitude which I like as well.”

Rooney’s comments carry extra weight given Ekitike is now expected to lead the line for the foreseeable future, with Alexander Isak facing a potentially significant lay-off.

From my experience watching Liverpool closely this season, Ekitike’s success has been about more than goals. His movement between the lines, willingness to press, and ability to link play have made him an ideal fit for Arne Slot’s system.

Rooney also highlighted Liverpool’s collective improvement, particularly without the ball.

“They look more solid, they look like they’re not conceding as many goals,” he added. “They’re working together to not concede goals. When you don’t concede, you’ve got a better chance to win games.

“It looks like defensively they’ve said: ‘We’re going to be harder to beat.’ Then you rely on your forward players to go and win you the game — and that’s obviously helping them.”

That assessment rings true. Liverpool’s defensive structure has tightened, allowing Ekitike and the attacking unit to decide matches rather than constantly chase them.

Ekitike has now played 24 games in all competitions for Liverpool, scoring 11 goals and registering one assist. Those numbers, while impressive, only tell part of the story. His consistency has brought clarity to Liverpool’s attacking hierarchy, something that felt uncertain early in the campaign.

A counterpoint remains worth noting. Tottenham, beaten on Saturday, are not in their best run of form, and tougher defensive tests lie ahead. Sustaining this output against elite opponents in Europe and the latter stages of the league season will be the real measure of Ekitike’s impact.

What stands out tactically is how Liverpool’s renewed defensive discipline amplifies Ekitike’s strengths. By controlling games without the ball, Liverpool reduce chaos — exactly the environment in which a striker like Ekitike thrives. He is not asked to force moments but to finish them. That clarity has allowed him to play with confidence and edge, something Rooney clearly appreciates.

If this balance holds, Ekitike’s numbers could rise further in the second half of the season.

Is Hugo Ekitike already Liverpool’s most important player this season — or does he still have another level to reach?