Cody Gakpo, Liverpool’s most recent £44 million signing, has been spotted at Anfield ahead of his official debut.
Although he is not yet legally registered, the Dutchman was there when Jurgen Klopp’s team played Leicester City on Friday night.
Gakpo revealed that Virgil van Dijk had a big impact on his decision to join Liverpool, helping the Reds beat off rivals Manchester United and a host of other teams to recruit him.
Gakpo is seen in a video shot on Liverpool’s official Twitter account getting out of a black sedan and being met by a club representative.
He then walks into the stadium from the parking lot, and grinning for the cameras while shaking hands with several other employees who were eager to greet him.
While Liverpool fans will be thrilled to see Gakpo arrive, their joy will be slightly muted by the sight of winger Luis Diaz coming in on crutches.
After feeling difficulty in Dubai, the Colombian player underwent more knee surgery this month and is anticipated to miss some time.
Before his team’s match against Leicester, Klopp was questioned about what he and the club’s leadership thought of Gakpo, who dazzled at the World Cup by scoring three goals as Holland was eliminated on penalties by Argentina in the quarterfinals.
“The answer is pretty easy, it’s obvious because he’s a really, really, really good player, so the package is really interesting,” the German said.
“The age he is in, the potential he shows, or has, and the quality he showed already in Holland and with the national team as well, so it makes him a really, really interesting player.
“And that’s why we were very interested to get him in and I’m really happy that we could do it. So, big for us, big for him as well, so it’s cool.
“He’s obviously delighted about joining us. Everything will be good. So, great day, let me say it like this.”
Cody Gakpo
Dutch professional footballer Cody Mathès Gakpo, born on May 7, 1999, plays as a winger for Eredivisie club PSV and the Netherlands national team.
On January 1st, 2023, he will sign with Liverpool of the Premier League.
Gakpo, a PSV academy alum, debuted for the team’s first squad in February 2018.
He was named the Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2021–2022 after tallying 21 goals across 47 games in all competitions.
Between the ages of 18 and 21, Gakpo represented the Netherlands in youth international football. He participated in Euro 2020 in June 2021, making his senior international debut.
Gakpo was raised in the Stratum neighborhood after being born in Eindhoven. While his mother is Dutch, his father was born in Togo and has Ghanaian descent.
He transferred to PSV’s development program in 2007 and advanced through all of the youth teams there.
Cody Gakpo is a bonified Christain. He stated, “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.”
Gakpo and Memphis Depay led a Bible study with 15 Netherlands players during the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
International career
Gakpo participated in the 2017 Dutch under-18 national team, Gakpo was qualified to compete for Ghana, Togo, or the Netherlands at the international level.
He represented the Netherlands in youth international football at the under-18, under-19, under-20, and under-21 levels.
Gakpo made his UEFA Euro 2020 debut against North Macedonia in the third round of the group stage as a substitute in the 79th minute for Frenkie de Jong after being called up to the senior Netherlands team.
He so became the first Dutch player since Martien Vreijsen in 1980 to make his international debut in a European Championship.
As soon as he was selected for the 2022 World Cup team, he made an impression, scoring in three straight Group A games against Senegal, Ecuador, and Qatar.
How Good is Gakpo?
Gakpo is typically positioned on the left wing, although he frequently cuts inside with his right foot to take up a more central attacking position.
He then uses his speed and dribbling prowess to outrace defenders until he is given enough room to attempt a goal.
