Cody Mathès Gakpo is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left winger or forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Netherlands national team. Born on 7 May 1999, Gakpo has had a remarkable career filled with numerous achievements and milestones. Here is a timeline of his significant events and periods from birth to today.
Main Milestones
Birth
7 May 1999
Cody Mathès Gakpo was born in Eindhoven, Netherlands, to a father with Togolese and Ghanaian ancestry and a Dutch mother.
Joining PSV Youth Academy
2007
At the age of 8, Gakpo moved to the youth academy of PSV, where he would progress through all the youth teams.
First Team Debut
25 February 2018
Gakpo made his first-team debut for PSV as an injury-time substitute in a 3–1 victory over Feyenoord.
Breakthrough Season
2018-2019 Season
Gakpo further improved his performances, scoring his first professional hat-trick against Go Ahead Eagles and making his Eredivisie debut.
Dutch Footballer of the Year
2021-2022 Season
Gakpo won the Dutch Footballer of the Year award after scoring 21 goals in 47 games in all competitions.
Senior International Debut
June 2021
Gakpo made his senior international debut for the Netherlands at UEFA Euro 2020, becoming the first Netherlands player to make his international debut at a European Championship since Martien Vreijsen in 1980.
Signing with Liverpool
28 December 2022
Gakpo agreed to sign for Premier League club Liverpool on a five-and-a-half-year contract, with a transfer fee of between £35.4 to £44.3 million (€40 to €50 million), a record fee received by PSV.
First Goal for Liverpool
13 February 2023
Gakpo scored his first goal for Liverpool in a 2–0 Merseyside derby league victory over Everton.
World Cup Performance
2022 FIFA World Cup
Gakpo had an immediate impact at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, scoring in three consecutive group stage matches against Senegal, Ecuador, and Qatar.
UEFA Euro 2024
2024
Gakpo was named in the Netherlands' squad for UEFA Euro 2024 and scored in the opening 2–1 victory over Poland, earning him the player of the match award. He also scored and provided an assist in the round of 16 match against Romania, again being named player of the match.
Recent Performance
5 January 2025
Gakpo scored the equaliser in Liverpool's 2–2 draw with Manchester United.
