Cody Gakpo Age, Parents, Wife, Nationality, Religion and Net Worth
The Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo signed for Premier League club Liverpool from from PSV Eindhoven for £35m in January 2023 on a five-and-a-half year contract with Liverpool.
| Player Biography Data |
|---|
| Full name | Cody Mathès Gakpo |
| Date of birth | 7 May 1999 |
| Age | 25 years |
| Place of birth | Eindhoven, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Father | Johnny Gakpo |
| Mother | Ank Gakpo |
| Siblings | Sidney Gakpo (brother) |
| Girlfriend | Noa van der Bij |
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Religion | Pentecostal Christian |
| Position(s) | Left winger, forward |
| Current team | Liverpool F.C. |
| Joined | Jan 1, 2023 |
| Contract expires | Jun 30, 2028 |
| Jersey number | 18 |
| Previous Clubs | PSV |
| International Team | Netherlands under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels, Netherlands senior team |
| Foot | right |
| Market value | €60 million |
| Net Worth | £13,312,000 |
| Social media handle | codymathesgakpo |
Cody Mathès Gakpo (born 7 May 1999) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Netherlands national team.
A product of PSV Eindhoven’s renowned youth academy, Gakpo made his senior debut for the club in February 2018. His breakthrough came during the 2021–22 season, where he delivered an exceptional performance, scoring 21 goals across 47 appearances in all competitions. His stellar form earned him the prestigious Dutch Footballer of the Year award. In January 2023, Gakpo completed a move to Liverpool, joining the Premier League side to further his career.
On the international stage, Gakpo represented the Netherlands at various youth levels, from under-18 to under-21. He earned his first senior cap in June 2021 during UEFA Euro 2020, marking the start of his journey with the Dutch national team.
Cody Gakpo Early Life
Cody Gakpo was born on May 7, 1999, in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and grew up in the Stratum district of the city. He comes from a multicultural background, with his father being of Togolese origin with Ghanaian roots and his mother being Dutch. In 2007, Gakpo joined PSV Eindhoven’s renowned youth academy, where he steadily advanced through the ranks, showcasing his talent across various youth levels before making his mark on the senior team.
Cody Gakpo Club career
PSV
During the 2016–17 season, Cody Gakpo became part of Jong PSV, PSV Eindhoven’s reserve team, but primarily played with the under-19 squad. He made his professional debut in the Eerste Divisie for Jong PSV on 4 November 2016, in a match against Helmond Sport. However, he only featured in one additional game for Jong PSV that season.
Gakpo’s performance improved significantly in the following season’s U19 Eredivisie, where he tallied seven goals and five assists in just 13 league matches. This breakout led to his promotion to the reserves midway through the campaign. In his second Eerste Divisie appearance on 19 January 2017, Gakpo delivered an impressive performance, scoring twice and assisting a third goal in a 3–2 away victory against De Graafschap.
By the end of the 2017–18 season, Gakpo had solidified his place in Jong PSV, scoring seven goals in 12 league appearances, a testament to his growing potential.
First Team Journey
Cody Gakpo made his first-team debut for PSV on February 25, 2018, coming on as an injury-time substitute in a 3–1 victory over Feyenoord. By the 2018–19 season, Gakpo’s development began to draw attention, particularly from head coach Mark van Bommel. Although he frequently made the matchday squad during the first half of the season, he initially remained on the bench.
His breakthrough moment came on December 3, 2018, when he scored his first professional hat-trick in a dominant 5–1 win over Go Ahead Eagles. Just weeks later, Gakpo delivered another standout performance on December 21, scoring a goal and providing an assist in a 5–2 win against Almere City. This earned him his Eredivisie debut the very next day, where he came on as a late substitute for Steven Bergwijn in a 3–1 victory over AZ.
By the end of 2018, Gakpo had scored nine goals in ten league games for Jong PSV, securing a promotion to PSV’s first team. He didn’t waste any time making an impact, scoring his first Eredivisie goal on February 3, 2019, during his second league appearance in a 5–0 win over Fortuna Sittard, where he also notched an assist. He went on to make 14 league appearances that season, though he didn’t add to his goal tally.
The 2019–20 season marked Gakpo’s true breakout in the Eredivisie, as he racked up seven goals and seven assists across 25 league games.
Gakpo kicked off the 2020–21 Eredivisie season in style, scoring twice in PSV’s 3–1 win over Groningen on September 13, 2020. He followed that up with another brace on September 24, this time in a 5–1 victory over NŠ Mura in a UEFA Europa League qualifier, helping PSV secure a spot in the play-off round. Gakpo’s form continued in the next stage, as he scored the second goal in PSV’s 2–0 win over Rosenborg on October 1. By the end of the season, Gakpo had made 29 appearances and scored 11 goals.
In the 2022 KNVB Cup final, Gakpo delivered a decisive performance, scoring the winning goal in PSV’s 2–1 victory over Ajax. He continued to shine on August 31, 2022, when he scored a hat-trick in a stunning 7–1 victory over Volendam.
Liverpool
On December 28, 2022, Cody Gakpo finalized an agreement to join Premier League club Liverpool, with the transfer becoming official on January 1, 2023. According to BBC Sport, he signed a five-and-a-half-year contract, with the transfer fee reported to be between £35.4 million and £44.3 million (€40–50 million), setting a new record for the highest fee ever received by PSV.
Gakpo made his debut on January 7, starting in a 2–2 FA Cup third-round draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. He scored his first goal for Liverpool on February 13, helping secure a 2–0 league victory in the Merseyside derby against Everton.
International career
Youth career
Cody Gakpo had the option to represent the Netherlands, Ghana, or Togo at the international level. He chose the Netherlands and represented them in youth football, appearing in under-18, under-19, under-20, and under-21 matches.
Senior career
Gakpo received his first senior call-up for the Netherlands during UEFA Euro 2020. He made his debut in the group stage against North Macedonia, entering as a substitute for Frenkie de Jong in the 79th minute. This appearance made him the first Dutch player to debut at a European Championship since Martien Vreijsen in 1980.
On September 1, 2021, Gakpo earned his first start for the Netherlands in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Norway. Just three days later, he netted his first senior international goal in a 4–0 victory over Montenegro.
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Gakpo made a strong impression by scoring in three consecutive group stage matches, finding the back of the net against Senegal, Ecuador, and Qatar.
For UEFA Euro 2024, Gakpo was once again named in the Netherlands squad. He shone in their opening match, scoring the team’s first goal in a 2–1 victory over Poland, earning the Player of the Match award. In the round of 16, he delivered another standout performance against Romania, scoring the opener and assisting another in a commanding 3–0 win. Gakpo concluded the tournament with three goals, sharing the Golden Boot in a six-way tie.
Personal life
Cody Gakpo is a devoted Pentecostal Christian who places a strong emphasis on his faith. He has openly shared his spiritual practices, stating, “I try to read the Bible every day, I pray every day, I like to go to church, and I read many books about the faith.”
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Gakpo demonstrated his commitment to his beliefs by co-leading a Bible study group alongside Memphis Depay. Together, they guided fifteen of their Dutch teammates in exploring and discussing their faith, creating a shared spiritual experience during the tournament.
Honours
PSV
- Eredivisie: 2017–18
- KNVB Cup: 2021–22
- Johan Cruyff Shield: 2021, 2022
Liverpool
- EFL Cup: 2023–24
Individual
- Dutch Footballer of the Year: 2021–22
- Eredivisie Player of the Month: September 2022,[70] October 2022
- Eredivisie Team of the Month: August 2022, September 2022, October 2022
- UEFA European Football Championship Top Goalscorer: 2024 (shared)
