Liverpool Star Cody Gakpo Helps Children In Need During Holiday Visit To His Father's Land Togo. {Watch}

Cody Gakpo has pays visit to his father’s home country of Togo, where he was filmed distributing food to children in the West African country.

Following the end of the Premier League season, and a disappointing stint with the Netherlands national team, having suffered successive defeats as host to Croatia and Italy in the UEFA Nations League which Spain eventually won. 

The straight losses heaped pressure on manager Ronald Koeman as he was dealt his fourth third disappointment after just four games since returning to the Dutch dugout.

Gakpo was born in Eindhoven, Netherlands in 1999 and raised in the district of Stratum. 

His father was born in Togo and has Ghanaian ancestry, while his mother is Dutch.

The former PSV Eindhoven captain, was contacted by the Togo Football Association about playing for his paternal country four years ago, but he opted to pledge his allegiance to Holland.

Gakpo immediately boarded a plane after the Oranje defeat in the Nations League bronze medal match to Italy. 

The Liverpool and Netherlands forward, whose family still live in Togo, has been in the country's capital Lomé since Monday June 19,  as part of his holiday plans to spend time with his family and friends.

He was welcomed by several Liverpool fans on his arrival in the country.

Footage emerged on the video social media platform TikTok of the 24-year-old in the West African nation making donations and distributing food to children.

Gakpo had previously expressed his desire to travel to Togo in 2019, but a busy schedule and the COVID pandemic stopped him from doing so until now.

Speaking to Elf Voetbal at the time, he said: "My older brother has been to Togo, just like my younger brother. Just not me yet.

"A visit to Togo is still very high on my bucket list. But finding the time… It is difficult for a footballer, especially for an international, to plan a longer holiday.

"I'd like to go. Maybe skip Ibiza in the summer, haha."

Cody Gakpo has been in his Father’s home country of Togo, handing out food to children 🇹🇬👏pic.twitter.com/5gqyAFxTKh

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) June 23, 2023

Gakpo has since become a key player for Netherlands, scoring in all three group games at the 2022 World Cup, his performance help linked him top European clubs like Manchester United, but Liverpool made a shocking move to hijack the deal from their rivals in the January transfer window for £37million.

He has also had an impressive outing at Anfield, where he has quickly become a Jurgen Klopp favourite, registering seven goals and two assists in 21 Premier League appearances.

He is not due back on Merseyside until July 11 as he prepares for his first preseason as a Liverpool player.

The Reds will begin their 2023-24 Premier League campaign on Sunday August 13, against a Chelsea side with a new manager Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.