This summer Liverpool signed Frankfurt forward Ekitic for a total transfer fee of 95 million euros. Ekitic has played 10 games for the Reds so far this season, scoring 5 goals and providing 1 assist.
Frankfurt star Falkenmeyer talked about Ekitic in an interview with "442". He said: "At the beginning of 2024, when Ekitic was loaned to Frankfurt from Paris, his start was not smooth-he did not score in the first 11 games. But you can see his potential, that Ekitic was outstanding at the end of the season, scoring 4 goals in the last 5 games.
"So I was happy to see Frankfurt sign Ekitic permanently for £14 million last summer. I thought he would play a more important role, but no one expected him to become so crucial. Ekitic's movement, intelligence, speed and hard-working attitude are impressive. The effect of his partnership with Malmouche was also very good at that time, because they inspired each other and continued to improve.
"After Malmouche left the team, it became more difficult for the team to compete for the Champions League, but Ekitic stepped up. He was given more responsibilities to lead the team and took on this responsibility brilliantly. I admire the temperament shown by Ekitic even more.
"I was sad to see him leave the team this summer, but this is an ideal deal for all parties. Liverpool signed a player who has begun to fulfill his potential, and Frankfurt received a huge sum of money for a relatively small cost. For Ekitic, he joins one of the biggest clubs in the world. "