The drama kicked off when Nick Woltemade — the Newcastle United striker who joined the Magpies in a club-record deal last summer after they missed out on Ekitike (among others) — launched a second Instagram account (a “finsta” or fake/private one) under the handle @whoisjaraff. Woltemade posted a series of stylish photos announcing the new page, embracing the trend among footballers for low-key, fun side accounts.
Ekitike, who’s been killing it at Anfield since his big-money summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt (hijacking Newcastle’s pursuit in the process), slid into the comments with a simple handshake emoji (🤝). Nothing too wild on the surface… until Woltemade pinned Ekitike’s comment at the top and replied directly: “@hekitike you know”.
That reply — pinned for maximum visibility — has sent Liverpool supporters spiraling. Fans are flooding timelines, forums, and group chats with theories:
- Is “you know” a cheeky nod to their shared transfer history? (Newcastle chased Ekitike hard before pivoting to Woltemade when the Frenchman chose Anfield.)
- An inside joke about fashion/style vibes, since both players post sharp outfits and Ekitike’s been dubbed a “finsta king” in footy circles?
- Or something deeper — like mutual respect, a subtle shade at Newcastle’s failed bid, or even banter ahead of future clashes?
Clips and screenshots of the exchange are everywhere on X, Instagram, Threads, and fan pages like DaveOCKOP, Tribuna.com, and footballerfits. One viral post summed it up: “Woltemade pinning Hugo’s 🤝 and hitting ‘you know’ — Liverpool fans convinced it’s a transfer hint or epic troll 😂🔥”. Others joked: “Game recognize game… or is this code for ‘we both dodged bullets’?”
Context adds fuel: Ekitike publicly explained last year how he rejected Newcastle (and even Man Utd interest) to join Liverpool, calling it his top choice and thriving under Arne Slot with goals, assists, and a growing bond with the Kop. Meanwhile, Woltemade stepped into a tough spot at St James’ Park as a backup/rotation option, with mixed form but praised for attitude. The two were indirectly linked in the same transfer windows — Newcastle missed on Ekitike, landed Woltemade instead — so any interaction feels loaded.
Ekitike hasn’t elaborated (classic cryptic baller move), and Woltemade’s pinned reply keeps the mystery alive. Is it just friendly footballer banter in the finsta era? Or fans reading way too much into emojis and two words? Either way, the Kop is buzzing — this one’s got everyone connecting dots that might not even exist… yet.
