Cody Gakpo has withdrawn from Netherlands Nations League duty with an ankle injury and will return to Liverpool for further assessment, the club confirmed.
The forward was substituted in the first half of the Netherlands’ 2-1 win away to Serbia on Sunday evening and will miss the Oranje’s remaining two fixtures in this international window.
What Liverpool and the KNVB confirmed
Liverpool said Gakpo sustained an ankle injury while on international duty, will not take part in the Dutch side’s remaining matches this period, and is returning for assessment by club medical staff at the AXA Training Centre.
The Dutch FA (KNVB), via OnsOranje and Reuters reporting, said the ankle problem came in the Serbia game after a strong challenge by Saša Lukić, with Gakpo going off after about 17 minutes. The federation said he returns to Liverpool and that coach Xavi Hernández will not call up a replacement for the rest of the window.
Neither Liverpool nor the KNVB published a detailed diagnosis or a return-to-play timetable. BetAlert will not speculate beyond the confirmed withdrawal and the club’s assessment.
Gakpo’s early exit was already noted in BetAlert’s [Serbia 1-2 Netherlands match report](/news/serbia-1-2-netherlands-meerdink-xavi-first-win-nations-league); Monday’s club and federation statements make the withdrawal and return to Merseyside official.
What Xavi said
After the Serbia match, Xavi said of Gakpo’s problem: “It’s his ankle, that’s all I know. Tomorrow we will know, but hopefully it’s not too important,” according to Liverpool Echo reporting of his post-match comments.
What happens next
The Netherlands play Greece in Thessaloniki on Thursday, then host Serbia in Eindhoven on Sunday, both without Gakpo. No official recovery timeline has been issued by Liverpool or the KNVB. Liverpool’s Premier League season resumes when Manchester City visit Anfield on Sunday 11 October.
For another Liverpool forward leaving Nations League camp this break, see [Alexander Isak’s withdrawal from Sweden](/news/isak-leaves-sweden-camp-minor-injury-liverpool-nations-league).