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Cody Gakpo Extends Liverpool Stay

On Saturday 30th August, Liverpool confirmed that Cody Gakpo has signed a new long-term contract with the club, extending his deal until 2030. Having joined from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, the Dutch international has steadily built a reputation as one of the more dependable figures in a forward line that has otherwise been in constant flux. As a man once brought to replace Sadio Mane, he quickly transitioned into a Roberto Firmino replicant, however, since the appointment of Arne Slot in 2024, his role has been more consistent and the goal contributions have increased as a result

At 26, Gakpo now sits firmly in the prime years of his career, and while not always the headline act in Arne Slot’s evolving system, he has proven himself to be indispensable to the squad. Liverpool’s attack has been reshaped dramatically this summer, but ensuring stability was just as important as the statement signings. Gakpo’s renewal delivers exactly that and builds a bridge between himself and his eventual successor, Rio Ngumoha.

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A Quiet Consistency in a New-Look Frontline

Gakpo has never been the type to dominate every game, nor is he prone to long highlight reels of dazzling solo goals. Instead, his value lies in his consistency and dependable nature. His early-season contributions under Slot have already demonstrated his importance—chipping in with vital assists, linking play effectively, and fulfilling tactical roles without fuss.

In a system where the likes of Florian Wirtz are tasked with invention, Hugo Ekitike with movement, and Mohamed Salah with his trademark decisiveness, Gakpo provides the glue and steadiness from the left. He slots into that left channel, drifts centrally when required, and is willing to do the unglamorous work of pressing and recycling possession. Even on off-days, he can still impact a game, a quality Liverpool needs more than ever after the departures of Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz, and the tragic loss of Diogo Jota.

Slot knows that his revamped front line requires variety but also reliability during a period of transition. In Gakpo, he has a player who may never grab all the headlines yet rarely lets the team down, despite those who have come and gone. A contract until 2030 doesn’t just reward his growth; it also safeguards his value in a market where wide forwards are in perpetual demand.

Value in Stability Amid the Revolution

The wider context of Liverpool’s transfer activity makes this extension even more significant, especially given the long-term strategy of the Reds’ Sporting CEO, Michael Edwards. This has been a summer of upheaval, with Edwards and Richard Hughes clearing space for a younger, more tactically adaptable attack. Alexander Isak is expected to arrive shortly, while Ekitike has already been integrated with a goal-scoring arrival. Add in Wirtz, Salah’s commitment until 2027, and Jeremie Frimpong’s thrust from the right flank, and the picture of a front six bursting with options is clear. Let us not forget that unless something alters before Monday evening when the transfer window closes, Federico Chiesa is also a viable international-calibre option.

Yet within all of this freshness, there had to be figures who could ensure continuity. Gakpo is precisely that and strikes me as the type that will follow team instructions to the letter. He has the intelligence to adapt to new systems, the versatility to play across multiple positions, and the professionalism to accept rotation. Liverpool’s next great attack cannot just be built on new signings—it also needs players who bridge the eras.

That is where Gakpo’s new deal carries more meaning than just years on a contract. It ensures that, amid all the change, there is still a strand of consistency woven through the team as a new dressing room dynamic evolves.

The Forward Line Still Isn’t Finished

While this extension is both deserved and shrewd, I believe Liverpool will still seek a long-term left winger next summer. For all Gakpo’s quality and consistency, he is not a natural touchline player, nor the type to relentlessly stretch defences. If Isak arrives, and with Ekitike developing, the Reds will still require one more wide option capable of providing pace and unpredictability from the left. Florian Wirtz will be a sometime option from wide, though his central creativity will never see him thrown towards the touch line permanently.

That possibility makes Gakpo’s renewal even more important. It protects the club from losing leverage on a highly coveted asset in the meantime and ensures its value remains intact, regardless of future additions. If he stays and competes for the role, Liverpool will benefit from depth and competition. If circumstances demand a sale, Liverpool are safeguarded with years on his deal and a plethora of interested parties willing to pay upwards of £70m.

For now, though, the focus is on what Gakpo offers: composure, consistency, and tactical reliability in a frontline otherwise in transition. In a season where new pieces are bedding in and the balance of the attack is being rebuilt, that might just prove to be Liverpool’s most underrated advantage.

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