Liverpool presents ‘Christmas present’ Cody Gakpo: ‘Virgil van Dijk told me this was the right move’ | Dutch football

Gakpo can’t wait to get started at Liverpool, he says on the club website. “I think this is a great club for me and I will try to show what I can do to help the team achieve more great moments than they have in recent years,” said the forward. from PSV.

Gakpo will play for Liverpool with number 18. In doing so, he follows in the footsteps of Erik Meijer and Dirk Kuyt, two of the ten Dutchmen who preceded Gakpo at Anfield.

The Orange international signs a contract for 5.5 years at Anfield. “I think it’s good for me personally to develop here and there are a lot of great players here from whom I can learn a lot,” said Gakpo, who of course also says he is looking forward to the atmosphere at Anfield. my goal as a team is to win as many trophies as possible, to perform well, to show the world what we can do as a team and what I can do as a player.”

Gakpo said Orange captain Virgil van Dijk advised him to come to Anfield. “We’ve talked a lot on the phone the past few days. He told me that this was the right step for me in my development and that Liverpool is a real football family. That’s important to me because I’m a family man. He is nothing but good things.”

Gakpo signs a contract with Liverpool until mid-2028, which transfers 42 million to PSV. With possible performance bonuses, up to 15 million euros can be added. Gakpo could make his debut for the top English club in London visiting Brentford on Monday January 2, but it is more likely he will do so on Saturday January 7. Liverpool then play at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers at home in the FA Cup.

It is then up to Gakpo to demonstrate that he is a nicer Christmas present for Liverpool than Van Dijk, who was presented on December 27, 2017 with a photo by the Christmas tree. Van Dijk then made his debut on January 5, 2018 with the winning goal in the FA Cup match against neighbor Everton.

Liverpool are now sixth in the Premier League, already fifteen points behind leaders Arsenal. The coming months will be dominated by the team of Jürgen Klopp, who cannot have access to his attackers Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota for the time being, to qualify for the Champions League next season. In this season’s Champions League, Liverpool will play defending champion Real Madrid in the round of 16. The first leg is on February 15 at Anfield, the return three weeks later at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.