Cody Gakpo was unveiled as Liverpool’s new forward on Wednesday night after a brilliant first half of the season with PSV Eindhoven and World Cup with Netherlands.

Cody Gapko has joined Liverpool in a deal worth up to £45million transfer (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Cody Gakpo will become the 11th player to pull on the No.18 jersey for Liverpool after joining the Reds in a £45million transfer.

The deal was confirmed on Wednesday night, two days after PSV Eindhoven announced they had struck an agreement with the Anfield club to sell their prized forward. Gakpo, 23, said he cannot wait to get started in his first interview for his new club – and he will hope to fare better than some of the players who have donned the No.18 shirt before him.

The number was last donned by Takumi Minamino, who, like Gakpo, is a forward who moved to Liverpool in a January transfer. The Japanese international was an unsung hero in the Reds’ FA Cup and EFL Cup triumphs last season and also won the Premier League after joining in early 2020, but struggled to establish himself under Jurgen Klopp and was sold to Monaco this summer.

Minamino occupied the No.18 shirt after it was vacated by Alberto Moreno, who spent five seasons on Merseyside but never made the grade. Dirk Kuyt was the previous occupant of the jersey and is remembered far more fondly for his goalscoring ability and tireless work rate, wherever he was asked to play.

Among the other players to wear No.18 for Liverpool are Antonio Nunez, fan-favourite John Arne Riise, Erik Meijer and Jean Michel-Ferri, who made just two substitute appearances under Gerard Houllier. Michel-Ferri inherited the shirt from Michael Owen, who donned it as he burst onto the scene at Anfield, before switching to the coveted No.10.

The only other two players to have worn No.18 for Liverpool are Phil Charnock and Ronny Rosenthal. It is far from the most esteemed shirt in the Anfield dressing room, but Gakpo can enhance its status if he lives up to his billing.

Cody Gapko will wear the No.18 shirt for Liverpool ( Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The Netherlands international scored three goals at the World Cup in Qatar and is the top goalscorer (nine) and top assister (12) in the Eredivisie this season. Upon completing his transfer, he told Liverpoolfc.com : “When I played at the World Cup, I played more in the centre, so I played like a ‘false nine’.

“Something like this – try to find my spaces to get the ball and to dribble or to move the ball forward. I try to be a player who goes forward and tries to make dangerous situations for the opponent and create chances, make dribbles and give assists and goals.

“I hope that I can bring that also to the team. What I said, I have to try to do my best for that and hopefully we can get a lot of beautiful moments.”

Gakpo says Dutch skipper Van Dijk persuaded him to join Liverpool

Dutch forward Cody Gakpo said he was persuaded to join Liverpool by Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk, who also plays at the Premier League club.

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group A – Netherlands v Qatar – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar – November 29, 2022 Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo

Gakpo, who scored three goals at the World Cup before the Dutch went out in the quarter-finals to eventual champions Argentina, joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday for a reported initial fee of 37 million pounds ($44.56 million).

British media reported Manchester United were also chasing the player before Liverpool sealed the deal and Gakpo told the club’s website that Van Dijk had played a big part in his decision to move to Anfield.

“What he told me was that this is the right move for me to make and for me to develop and to become a better player, that the club is a really big and massive club but also like a real family,” Gakpo said.

“I think that’s also very important for me because I’m a family guy. He said only good things. I’m also happy that he’s here, so he can help me with some stuff.”

Gakpo’s transfer will be officially completed at the start of the January transfer window and he will be eligible to make his debut against Brentford on Jan. 2.

Liverpool, who are sixth in the league with 25 points from 15 matches, take on Leicester City on Friday.

SOURCE: mirror.co.uk