Cody Gakpo was just eight years old when he joined PSV Eindhoven's academy in 2007. He progressed through the ranks and in 2016/17 made his debut for Jong PSV, the club's reserve side who were then playing in the second tier of Dutch football. Gakpo went on to score 17 goals in 26 appearances for Jong PSV before making the breakthrough to the first team in 2018/19. He played all 25 of PSV's league games in the Covid hit 2019/20 season, which the Dutch FA abandoned rather than resume behind closed doors. He made an impressive contribution, with seven goals and seven assists. 

After another impressive season in 2020/21, Gakpo was called up to the Netherlands squad for the delayed Euro 2020 Championship despite not having played for the national side. He made his debut as a 79th minute substitute in the third group game against North Macedonia. Gakpo scored the winning goal in the 2022 Dutch Cup final, in which PSV beat Ajax 2-1. He was named Dutch footballer of the year and was a key figure of the World Cup squad, scoring in all three group games. On 28 December 2022 it was announced that Liverpool had agreed a five and a half year contract with Gakpo and he would formally join the Reds once the January transfer window opened.