Cody Gakpo names the player who helped convince him to join Liverpool

The Netherlands international opened up on his decision to join Liverpool after completing his transfer from PSV Eindhoven.

Cody Gakpo has revealed Netherlands teammate Virgil van Dijk had a part to play in his move to Liverpool.

On Wednesday, Liverpool announced an agreement with PSV Eindhoven to sign Gakpo. The 23-year-old winger, who completed his medical on the same day, will cost between €40-50 million. The deal will become official once the player has a work permit from the UK.

“We spoke a lot over the phone [in] the last days,” Gakpo told the club’s website about Van Dijk’s role in his Liverpool transfer.

“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 – I think that’s also very important for me because I’m a family guy. He said only good things.”

Reds defender Van Dijk greeted Gakpo at the club’s AXA training centre.

‘At the moment I was calling [in] with the coach [Jurgen Klopp], he came into the office of the coach, and then he saw me, and we chatted a little bit,” the new No. 18 added.

“I’m also happy that he’s here, so he can help me with some stuff. I’m really grateful to be here. I’m really looking forward to playing at Anfield. I heard a lot of great stories about the stadium, about the atmosphere. I cannot wait.”

Liverpool return to action on Friday for a Premier League match against Leicester City at Anfield.