Hugo Ekitiké 86 TOTW Review: Is the 89-Pace 189cm Premier League Poacher Worth 35K? FC 26

In-game feel & playstyle

Hugo Ekitiké's 86-rated Team of the Week card plays exactly like its tier suggests: a tall, quick lead striker who runs the channels and finishes inside the box. With 89 pace and a 189cm frame, he is a real aerial and counter-attacking threat, and his 90 positioning means he tends to drift into the right pockets for tap-ins. The catch is the Controlled acceleration type, so he builds speed over distance rather than exploding off the first step. He feels strong in transition and weaker in tight, stop-start dribbling exchanges.

Strengths

• ✅ 89 pace, more than enough to stretch most defensive lines and chase through balls.
• ✅ 84 finishing & 90 positioning, a genuine Poacher profile that punishes space inside the box.
• ✅ 189cm height, a serious aerial outlet for crosses and set pieces.
• ✅ 88 dribbling base with 90 in-game dribble, comfortable enough on the ball for a target man.
• ✅ 78 physical, holds the ball up reasonably and survives Premier League contact.

Weaknesses

• ❌ Controlled accel, no first-step burst, so he loses tight one-on-ones against Explosive defenders.
• ❌ 3-star weak foot, right-foot reliant, which a smart defender can shade toward.
• ❌ 4-star skill moves, fine but not elite for flair-heavy players.
• ❌ 74 passing, limited as a link-up CAM despite the alt position.
• ❌ 36 defending, expected for a striker but it means zero defensive work rate value.

Best position, chemistry style & squads

Play him at ST as a Poacher, which is exactly his meta role. The priority is fixing that Controlled acceleration and adding agility, so a Hunter chem style is the best fit: it boosts pace and shooting and helps his runs feel sharper. If you would rather lean into the target-man identity, a Hawk adds pace, shooting and physical for aerial dominance. He links cleanly through the Premier League and France, so he slots into any EPL spine or a French national-team front line without chemistry headaches.

Final verdict & ratings

At roughly 35K, Ekitiké is a sensible early-game or budget striker who gives you height, pace and finishing for very little outlay. Buy him if you are building a cheap Premier League side or need a French link up top. Skip him if you want a meta finisher: the Controlled accel and 3-star weak foot mean he will not compete with the S-tier strikers in high-level Weekend League, and his B tier with an 82.4 meta score reflects that honestly.

Conclusion

A tall, fast, affordable Poacher that overdelivers for 35K. Great value, just not a meta endgame striker.