The Liverpool forward has issued an update on his family life
Cody Gakpo is among the key figures leading Liverpool’s title charge this season. The Liverpool FC attacker has flourished playing as a left winger under new manager Arne Slot.
He scored and assisted in Liverpool’s most recent game against Ipswich last Saturday, taking his total to 14 goals and five assists for the 2024/25 season. Away from the pitch, Gakpo has spoken openly about his Christian faith. In an interview with The Athletic in June 2023, it was revealed that Gakpo spent a chunk of 13-hour flight from the UK to Singapore reading the Bible as the Reds headed to Asia for their pre-season tour.
On how his faith has shaped him, the Dutch forward said: “My religion helps not only my career but my whole life. It’s a lifestyle kind of thing for me.
“I take the Bible with me every day, whether it’s in the UK or wherever else. I read it, I speak to people on the phone about it every day, always trying to learn from it. It never stops.
“I was always searching for these kinds of things and now, for the past three or four years, I’ve been getting deeper into it. It’s about learning how to live your life with the gifts that God has given you. There are a lot of passages in the Bible about that.”
Gakpo was born in Eindhoven in The Netherlands. His dad was born in Togo and has Ghanaian ancestry, while his mum is Dutch. Speaking openly in a recent article with The Players’ Tribune about his upbringing, the 25 year-old revealed that his dad retains a strong connection to his place of birth.
He started gradually building his dream house in Lome, the capital of Togo. Even though it took over two decades to finish, Gakpo said it taught him a valuable lesson.
He said: “It was his passion. When there was more money coming in, building went faster, of course. For the longest time, though, it was like a snail. I learned over time, that’s exactly how all the best things in life have to happen. Slow and deliberate. Brick by brick.”
Away from the pitch, Gakpo’s girlfriend is Noa van der Bij. She gave birth to their son, named Samuël Seth Gakpo, earlier this year. Noa works for a modelling agency and regularly shares updates on her personal life to her 47,000 Instagram followers.
Gakpo said in the same interview that, although being a dad has had its difficulties, he is looking forward to teaching him about football and life, using the lessons of his dad. He said: “The day my son was born was the most important in my life. He’s getting big now. He’s a very busy boy, and he never wants to sleep. But we’ll be alright. He will eventually get to an age where he’s going to understand what Dad does.
“For now, I bring him to Anfield, and he doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. But it’s OK. One day, he will know the whole story. One day, he will understand how all great things are built. And on that day, I will tell him about a house in Lome.”