Hugo Ekitike is probably one of the hottest young prospects in the world right now. The Liverpool forward, who already has 2 goals and an assist to his name in 3 games in his new team, is easily one of the superstars of tomorrow.
His athletic build, intelligent runs, and good finishing capabilities have already made him look like the complete centre forward, and with clubmate Alexander Isak as a mentor with Arne Slot’s tactics, he is touted to develop into a monstrous striker when he comes of age.
His job is to score and create goals, but right now, he is going viral for something a bit different from what he usually does.
The 23-year-old received his first call up for his national team, France, on 31st August.
In the video, he is seen serenading his teammates with a rendition of French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura‘s Djadja, the hit French pop song that had taken the francophone world by storm in 2018.
Ekitike’s initiation for the French NT 😂 pic.twitter.com/4XjUjAAyXJ
— anfield social (@anfieldsociaI) September 3, 2025
The song, from Aya Nakamura’s second album, “Nakamura” had topped the charts in France and was a chart mainstay globally. The music video currently sits with a handsome 1 Billion views on Youtube. The popularity of the song recieved a shot in the arm when superstar Colombian rapper Maluma added Spanish verses for a remixed version in 2020.
It is a common team-bonding practice to have players sing their favourite songs on stage for their teammates during team dinner, the football world has seen many notable, viral clips which have given fans and onlookers alike a glimpse into the inner world of celebrity athletes who tend to be in a bubble separate from them.
Many a times, it comes as surprise to see footballers, who usually wow people with their skills on the ball, to showcae their artistic talents. Amadou Onana, the Belgian midfielder who plays for Aston Villa, shocked fans across the world when a few clips of him singing went viral. Onana’s versatile singing voice drew him comparisons to Canadian singer Daniel Caesar. Many footballers have also went on to have full-blown side-careers as singers, like Memphis Depay. Sergio Ramos comes as the latest addition to this star-studded line-up, with his new single “Cibeles” which came out a week ago and blew people’s minds.
What’s funny about Ekitike’s singing Djadja? He chose a popular song that deals with a girl’s dislike for her stalker. The word “Djadja” is a French-language slang about a man who spreads false rumors or lies about a woman he is interested in. A very interesting choice for his initiation song, we must add. No wonder the viral clip offered hilarity and guffaws.
However, it is still good to see the new Liverpool star gel with his French teammates. Knowing the potential of Hugo Ekitike, many can’t wait to see him on the field for Liverpool soon, after the international break.
