Cody Gakpo was raised in a Pentecostal Christian household in Eindhoven and has made his faith a visible part of his life and career. He revealed that he reads the Bible daily and leads Bible-study sessions for teammates on the Netherlands national team.
Quick Profile: Cody Gakpo
| Name | Cody Mathès Gakpo |
| Date of birth | 7 May 1999 |
| Nationality | Dutch (Netherlands) |
| Profession | Professional footballer |
| Religion | Christian (Pentecostal) |
What religion is Cody Gakpo?
Cody Gakpo is a Christian. In interviews he has described himself as a Pentecostal Christian and speaks often about living out his faith. He has said he tries “to read the Bible every day, pray every day, [and] go to church”. In another interview he explained that religion is a “lifestyle” for him and that he carries the Bible “everywhere”.
Teammates and coaches note that Gakpo frequently leads Bible studies and gives credit to God for his success on the pitch. For example, after games he will publicly thank God or share Bible verses. His faith is very much part of his identity.
Early life
Cody Gakpo was born and raised in Eindhoven, in the southern Netherlands. His family is very sports-oriented, his father, Johnny Gakpo, was a Togolese international footballer, and his mother, Anke, played rugby. He has two brothers, and the family emphasized humility, hard work and faith from a young age. Cody started playing football very early (around age 4) with a local club, and by age 8 (in 2007) he had joined the PSV Eindhoven youth academy. There he developed his skills through the youth ranks.
Career highlights
Gakpo rose through PSV’s youth teams and broke into the first team by 2018. He made his professional debut on 25 February 2018 and soon showed his talent. On 3 December 2018 he scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 win over Go Ahead Eagles. He became a regular starter for PSV in the following seasons and by 2022 was a star of the team, scoring 21 goals in 47 games in 2021–22. His performances helped PSV win the Dutch league (Eredivisie) title in 2017–18 and the KNVB Cup in 2021–22. He also scored in the 2022 KNVB Cup final (a 2–1 win over Ajax). For his efforts he was named Dutch Footballer of the Year for the 2021–22 season.
In January 2023 Gakpo transferred to Liverpool FC in the English Premier League. The fee (reported around €40–45 million) was a club record sale for PSV. Gakpo quickly became a key attacker for Liverpool. He made his debut on 7 January 2023 and scored his first Liverpool goal on 13 February 2023 in a Merseyside derby 2–0 win over Everton. Over the next two seasons he continued to score regularly. He helped Liverpool win the 2023–24 EFL (League) Cup and the 2024–25 Premier League title. Notably, on 5 January 2025 he scored an equalizer in a 2–2 draw against Manchester United, and later that season he scored a goal in a 5–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur that confirmed Liverpool as champions. In total, by August 2025 Gakpo had made over 130 appearances for Liverpool, scoring more than 40 goals (according to club reports).
Gakpo has represented the Netherlands at every level. He was eligible for Ghana or Togo through his father, but he chose to play for the Netherlands. He played for Dutch youth teams (U18, U19, U20, U21). He made his senior debut for the Dutch national team in June 2021 during the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament (played in 2021). At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar he had a major impact, Gakpo scored in three consecutive group-stage matches against Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar. He helped the Netherlands reach the quarter-finals. In the 2024 European Championship he starred for the Netherlands, scoring three goals. He earned Player of the Match honors twice (against Poland and Romania) and ended the tournament tied as the top scorer (winning the Golden Boot). His international performances have been widely praised and he continues to be a regular for the Dutch side.
Personal life
Off the field, Gakpo is known as a grounded and private individual. He grew up with strong family values and faith (as noted above). In his personal life, Cody is in a long-term relationship with Noa van der Bij, and in April 2025 they welcomed their first child, a son.
Besides football and religion, Gakpo keeps a relatively low profile. He speaks Dutch at home but has learned English through living in England. He is unusually tall for a winger (about 1.93 m, or 6 ft 4 in), which he uses to his advantage in aerial play. He is active in community and youth programs; for example, he has visited his father’s homeland Togo to help underprivileged children (reports of these activities have appeared in media). He is also active on social media, often sharing messages about faith and gratitude, but he otherwise avoids controversy.
Awards and honors
- Dutch league (Eredivisie) champion: 2017–18 (with PSV)
- Dutch Cup (KNVB Cup): 2021–22 (with PSV)
- Johan Cruyff Shield (Dutch Super Cup): 2021, 2022 (with PSV)
- EFL Cup (Carabao Cup): 2023–24 (with Liverpool)
- Premier League champion: 2024–25 (with Liverpool)
- Dutch Footballer of the Year: 2021–22
- UEFA Euro 2024 Golden Boot: 2024 (shared top scorer with 3 goals)
Earnings and net worth
Gakpo’s earnings come from his Liverpool contract and endorsements. For the 2025–26 season he is signed with Liverpool at an estimated gross salary of about £13,000,000 per year (about £250,000 per week). By 2025 his career gross earnings were estimated around £20.4 million in total.
Throughout all this, Gakpo remains down-to-earth. He often emphasizes that success in football comes from hard work and “God’s guidance”. As of 2025, he is 26 years old and already considered one of the top Dutch footballers of his generation, known as much for his calm professionalism and faith as for his goals and assists on the pitch.
