It is one of the most dramatic transfer sagas of the 2026 summer window — and it is ending with Cody Gakpo staying at Anfield. Liverpool have decided to keep Cody Gakpo after rejecting Manchester City’s offer of £80 million for the Netherlands international winger. With the transfer window deadline looming, all parties have now been in direct communication to confirm the deal is off, which points to Gakpo staying at Anfield.
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What Happened?
Gakpo has been linked with a move away from Anfield all summer, with both City and Tottenham Hotspur interested in the Netherlands international. City ramped up discussions with Liverpool over the weekend after they received encouragement that Gakpo would be interested in a move to the Etihad.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported that Man City were ready to pay £85 million for Gakpo. However, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Liverpool have since rejected a bid worth an initial £75 million plus £5 million in add-ons.
Liverpool were only prepared to sanction the 27-year-old’s exit if they could find a suitable replacement and, having so far failed to do so, the club rejected the bid on Monday.
Transfer Saga: At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Cody Gakpo |
| Current Club | Liverpool FC |
| Interested Club | Manchester City |
| Bid Amount | £75m + £5m Add-ons (£80m total) |
| Bid Status | Rejected |
| Transfer Deadline | September 1, 2026 (11pm BST) |
| Reason for Rejection | No Suitable Replacement Found |
| Replacement Targets | Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace), Yankuba Minteh (Brighton) |
| Reported by | David Ornstein (The Athletic) |
| City’s Next Move | Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) |
Why Liverpool Said No
Liverpool had sounded out a number of potential options to bolster their forward line, including Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaïla Sarr, but were unable to agree a fee with either club.
Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr had emerged as a top target for Liverpool in the final hours of the summer transfer window. However, Liverpool had a second bid for Sarr rejected by Palace, even though the Senegal international winger himself wants to make the move to Anfield.
Liverpool successfully hijacked Newcastle’s proposed deal for Victor Munoz earlier in the window and, on Monday, confirmed the blockbuster capture of PSG winger Bradley Barcola in a transfer that can rise as high as €145 million, but they still look light on attacking options.
Gakpo’s Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cody Mathès Gakpo |
| Date of Birth | May 7, 1999 |
| Age | 27 |
| Nationality | Netherlands |
| Position | Left Winger / Forward |
| Current Club | Liverpool FC |
| Shirt Number | 18 |
| Height | 193 cm (6ft 4in) |
| Joined Liverpool | January 2023 (£44m) |
| Contract Signed | August 30, 2025 (Long-term) |
| Transfer Value | €56 Million |
Gakpo at Liverpool: Career Stats
Across all competitions at Liverpool, Gakpo has registered 182 appearances, 51 goals, and 21 assists since joining the club in January 2023.
| Season / Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League (All Seasons) | 129 | 33 | 17 |
| All Competitions at Liverpool | 182 | 51 | 21 |
| 2025/26 Premier League | 36 | 7 | 5 |
| 2026/27 (Season so far) | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Netherlands International | 54 | 24 | — |
Gakpo scored in all three group games at the 2022 World Cup, then shared the Golden Boot at Euro 2024 with three goals, underlining his big-tournament pedigree for the Netherlands.
Honours at Liverpool
Throughout his career, Cody Gakpo has won 8 titles: Premier League (2024/2025), J.League World Challenge (2025), and EFL Cup (2023/2024) with Liverpool, and Super Cup (2022/2023, 2021/2022), Eredivisie (2017/2018), and KNVB Cup (2021/2022) with PSV Eindhoven.
Van Dijk Wanted Him to Stay
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk had urged the club to keep Gakpo following the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Van Dijk was candid about his views. “He’s a quality player. I think we should keep quality players,” van Dijk said of Gakpo. “I want him to stay not only because he’s a quality player but also because he’s a friend of mine. He’s very important for us.“
What Happens to Manchester City Now?
Manchester City will now shift their efforts to signing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who they have held interest in throughout the summer window. Tottenham could also come back into the picture if Manchester City make a move to hijack Iliman Ndiaye’s proposed move to north London.
Read More: Nottingham Forest Reach £22M Agreement to Sign Daniel Munoz from Crystal Palace
FAQs
Has Cody Gakpo’s transfer to Manchester City been called off?
Yes. David Ornstein confirmed: “Cody Gakpo to stay at Liverpool. Manchester City had £75m + £5m bid rejected by Liverpool & pursuit over – confirmed between all sides in direct communication.”
Why did Liverpool reject Manchester City’s bid?
Liverpool themselves were willing to sell the Netherlands international winger, but only if they were able to find a suitable replacement. Having failed to sign either Ismaïla Sarr or Yankuba Minteh, the club held firm and rejected the bid.
Was Gakpo keen on joining Manchester City?
Although he was keen on the move to Man City, Gakpo is content to stay at Liverpool, according to Fabrizio Romano.
When did Gakpo last sign a new contract with Liverpool?
On August 30, 2025, Gakpo signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool.
Could Gakpo still leave before the transfer deadline?
There are a number of circumstances which could yet see Gakpo depart, especially if Liverpool continue talks with Palace and Brighton and strike an agreement. Moreover, Tottenham could come back and test Liverpool’s resolve. None of that is guaranteed, but the door will not be categorically shut until Tuesday’s 11pm (BST) deadline.