Memphis Depay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Memphis Depay

Memphis with Lyon in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Memphis Depay
Date of birth	(1994-02-13) 13 February 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth	Moordrecht, Netherlands
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Corinthians
Number	10
Youth career
2000–2003	Moordrecht
2003–2006	Sparta Rotterdam
2006–2011	PSV Eindhoven
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2015	PSV Eindhoven	90	(39)
2015–2017	Manchester United	33	(2)
2017–2021	Lyon	139	(63)
2021–2023	Barcelona	30	(13)
2023–2024	Atlético Madrid	31	(9)
2024–	Corinthians	32	(12)
International career‡
2008	Netherlands U15	4	(2)
2009	Netherlands U16	6	(2)
2010–2011	Netherlands U17	17	(8)
2011–2013	Netherlands U19	8	(7)
2013	Netherlands U21	7	(0)
2013–	Netherlands	102	(50)
Medal record Representing  Netherlands FIFA World Cup Third 2014 Brazil UEFA Nations League Runner-up 2019 Portugal UEFA European Under-17 Championship Winner 2011 Serbia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:39, 13 July 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:20, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

Memphis Depay (born 13 February 1994), often called just Memphis, is a Dutch professional footballer. He plays as a forward for Corinthians in Brazil and for the Netherlands national team. He is one of the top goal scorers for his country, with 50 goals, sharing the record with Robin van Persie. Besides football, Memphis is also a musical artist. His music has been streamed and viewed over 113 million times on Spotify and YouTube.

Memphis started his professional football journey with PSV Eindhoven. There, his coach Phillip Cocu helped him become a key player. He scored 49 goals in 124 games for PSV. In the 2014–15 season, he was the top scorer in the Eredivisie league with 22 goals. He helped PSV win the league title for the first time since 2008. For his great performance, he was named the "Dutch Footballer of the Year" for young players. In 2015, France Football also called him the "Best Young Player" in the world.

In June 2015, Memphis joined the English club Manchester United. After a challenging time there, he moved to the French club Lyon in January 2017. He played five seasons with Lyon. In 2021, he joined Barcelona for free.

Memphis grew up playing for the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) youth teams. He played for the Netherlands at every age level. He was part of the Netherlands under-17 team that won the European Championship in 2011. He first played for the senior national team in 2013. The next year, he helped his country finish third at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He also played in UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and Euro 2024.

Early Life and Name

Memphis Depay was born in a small village called Moordrecht in the South Holland region of the Netherlands. His father was from Ghana, and his mother was Dutch. When Memphis was four years old, his parents separated.

Since 2012, Memphis has chosen not to use his last name, Depay. He prefers to be called simply "Memphis." He once said, "Do not call me Depay, call me Memphis."

Club Football Career

Starting at PSV Eindhoven

Memphis started playing football at a young age. When he was eight, scouts from Sparta Rotterdam noticed his talent. After three seasons, Sparta signed him from his local club, Moordrecht. A club official said Memphis was already a "complete" player at a young age. He was good with both feet and very strong.

When he was 12, big clubs like Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord wanted him. His grandfather, who was an Ajax fan, told Memphis to join PSV.

First Steps: 2011–2013

Memphis with PSV Eindhoven in 2011

In 2011, Memphis trained with PSV's main team while also playing for their reserve team, Jong PSV. He played his first official game on 21 September 2011 in a cup match. He scored a goal in an 8–0 win. His first league game was on 26 February 2012, when PSV beat Feyenoord 3–2. He scored his first league goal on 18 March, helping PSV win 5–1. In his first season, he played eight league games and scored three goals.

Memphis played in the 2012 KNVB Cup Final. PSV won 3–0 against Heracles. On 29 June, Memphis signed his first professional contract with PSV, which lasted until 2017. He also played in the 2012 Johan Cruyff Shield where PSV beat Ajax 4–2. In his second season, he played 20 league games and scored two goals. PSV reached the cup final again but lost 2–1 to AZ Alkmaar.

Memphis with PSV Eindhoven in 2012

Breaking Through: 2013–2014

Memphis scored his first goal in a UEFA competition on 30 July 2013. It was a powerful shot from the left side as PSV beat Zulte Waregem 2–0. PSV did not make it to the main Champions League group stage. However, Memphis scored again in the Europa League on 3 October.

On 15 December, Memphis scored twice in a 5–1 win against Utrecht. This helped PSV get only their second win in 13 matches. He also helped PSV win their eighth game in a row on 23 March 2014. Memphis helped PSV get a spot in European competition for the 41st year in a row. He scored a goal in a 2–0 win against Breda. This win made sure PSV finished fourth in the Eredivisie league.

Top Scorer and League Champion: 2014–2015

After playing well at the 2014 World Cup, many big clubs wanted to sign Memphis. These included Chelsea and Manchester United. Despite the rumors, he started the season strongly for PSV. On 7 August, he scored a goal and assisted another in a Europa League game. PSV won 3–2 and moved forward in the competition.

Three days later, in the first game of the Eredivisie season, Memphis scored two goals. PSV won 3–1 against Willem II. In the next game, he scored two free-kicks and set up another goal in a 6–1 win. On 28 August, he scored two late goals in the Europa League. This helped PSV reach the group stage.

On 18 April 2015, Memphis scored a free-kick from far away. This goal helped PSV win their 22nd Eredivisie title. It was their first league title since 2008. He scored his last home goal for PSV on 10 May in a 2–0 win. He received a standing ovation from the fans. Memphis finished the season as the league's top scorer with 22 goals.

Time at Manchester United

Memphis playing for Manchester United in 2015

On 7 May 2015, PSV announced that Memphis would join Manchester United. United's manager, Louis van Gaal, said he had to sign Memphis quickly because Paris Saint-Germain was also interested. On 12 June, United confirmed the signing for about £25 million. He signed a four-year contract. Memphis was given the famous number 7 shirt, worn by legends like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Memphis played his first game for United on 17 July in a friendly match. He scored his first goal for the club four days later. His Premier League debut was on 8 August in a 1–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur. On 18 August, Memphis scored his first two goals for Manchester United. He also helped set up another goal in a 3–1 win against Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs. He scored again on 15 September against his old team, PSV.

Memphis during a Champions League match against CSKA Moscow in 2015

Memphis scored his first league goal on 26 September. It was the first goal in a 3–0 win against Sunderland. This win put United at the top of the league. After some challenging games, Memphis said it was hard to get used to playing two high-level games a week. He was later benched for some matches.

In February, Memphis scored in both of United's Europa League matches against Midtjylland. United won 6–3 overall. Memphis played very well in the home game, scoring, setting up a goal, and helping his team get penalties. His manager called it a "turning point" for Memphis.

In the 2016–17 season, Memphis played very little. He only made four appearances in the Premier League, all as a substitute. His last game for the club was on 24 November 2016.

Moving to Lyon

Memphis playing for Lyon in 2017

On 20 January 2017, Memphis signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the French club Lyon. The transfer fee was about £16–17 million. He made his debut for Lyon two days later. On 28 January, he started his first game for Lyon. On 12 March, in a game against Toulouse, Memphis scored an amazing goal from near the halfway line. He called it "the goal of my life."

On the last day of the 2017–18 season, Memphis scored three goals against Nice. Lyon won 3–2 and qualified for the Champions League.

On 5 November 2019, Memphis scored his fourth goal in four games for Lyon in a 3–1 Champions League win. On 10 December, he scored an equalizer against RB Leipzig in a 2–2 draw. This helped Lyon reach the knockout stage of the Champions League. He scored in five Champions League matches in a row. On 15 December, Memphis got a serious knee injury. This ended his successful season, where he had scored nine goals in 12 league starts. He returned from his injury on 31 July 2020.

Memphis playing for Barcelona in 2021

On 7 August, Memphis scored in his sixth Champions League game in a row. He scored a penalty against Juventus. Lyon moved on in the competition because of the away goals rule. Lyon reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for only the second time in their history. On 28 August 2020, Memphis scored three goals in a 4–1 win against Dijon. This was the first game of the 2020–21 season.

Playing for Barcelona

On 19 June 2021, the Spanish club Barcelona announced that Memphis would join them for free. He signed a two-year contract. Memphis had dreamed of playing for Barcelona since he was four years old. On 15 August, Memphis played his first game for Barcelona. It was a 4–2 league win against Real Sociedad. Six days later, he scored his first goal for the club in his second game. He scored the equalizer in a 1–1 draw against Athletic Bilbao.

Time at Atlético Madrid

On 20 January 2023, Atlético Madrid announced they had signed Memphis. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract. On 12 February, he scored his first goal for Atlético in a 1–0 win. On 13 March 2024, Memphis scored the winning goal in the 87th minute against Inter Milan. This tied the Champions League game at 2–2 overall. Atlético then won 3–2 on penalties to reach the quarterfinals. On 22 May 2024, Memphis and Atlético Madrid decided to go their separate ways.

Joining Corinthians

On 9 September 2024, the Brazilian club Corinthians announced they had signed Memphis. He signed a two-year contract. He scored his first goal for the club on 18 October 2024. On 4 December, he scored two goals and assisted another as Corinthians beat Bahia 3–0.

International Career

Youth Teams

Memphis played for the Netherlands youth national teams at many levels. He played for the under-15, under-16, under-17, under-19, and under-21 teams. He was part of the under-17 team that won the European Championship in Serbia in 2011. In the final against Germany, he scored a goal that helped the Netherlands win 5–2.

Senior National Team

Memphis played his first game for the senior national team on 15 October 2013. It was a 2–0 win against Turkey in a World Cup qualification match. Memphis was chosen by manager Louis van Gaal for the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad in Brazil. He came on as a substitute in the second group game against Australia. He scored the winning goal in the 68th minute. He also helped set up Robin van Persie's goal. He became the youngest Dutch player to score a goal at the World Cup.

Memphis training with the Netherlands in March 2015

He came on as a substitute again in the final group game against Chile on 23 June. He scored the second goal for the Netherlands in a 2–0 win. This win secured first place for the team. On 11 July, Memphis was one of three players nominated for the tournament's "Best Young Player" award.

Memphis scored his first goal since the World Cup in a friendly game on 5 June 2015. He helped the Netherlands go 3–1 up against the United States. In October of that year, he had a disagreement with teammate Robin van Persie during training. The manager said they talked about it and it was resolved.

Memphis was part of the Netherlands squad for UEFA Euro 2020. He scored twice in four matches. The Netherlands were knocked out by the Czech Republic. On 7 September 2021, Memphis scored his first three goals in an international game. This was in a 6–1 win over Turkey in a World Cup qualification match. He reached 33 goals, matching the records of Johan Cruyff and Abe Lenstra.

Memphis scored a winning goal against Wales on 14 June 2022 in the UEFA Nations League. This took him to 42 international goals. In November 2022, he was in the Dutch squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. On 3 December, he scored a goal in a 3–1 win over the United States. This made him the second all-time top scorer for his country with 43 goals. On 10 June 2025, Memphis tied the record with Robin van Persie for most goals for the Netherlands.

On 29 May 2024, Memphis was named in the Netherlands' squad for UEFA Euro 2024. On 23 March 2025, he played his 100th international match for the Netherlands. He scored a goal in a 3–3 draw against Spain. On 10 June 2025, in a World Cup qualification game against Malta, he scored his 49th and 50th international goals. This made him the joint top goalscorer for the Netherlands, alongside Robin van Persie.

Playing Style

Memphis playing for PSV Eindhoven in 2011

Early in his career, a PSV coach noted Memphis was "very angry." He now works with a life coach to help with his mindset. In April 2015, The Daily Telegraph described Memphis as a strong player who shoots well with his right foot. He often plays as a left winger who cuts inside. He is fast and tricky, making him hard for defenders to stop. Memphis is also known for his amazing free-kick ability. In the 2014–15 season, he was one of the best free-kick takers in Europe.

Former Dutch player and manager Ronald Koeman called Memphis "a great talent." He said Memphis needs to keep improving because the Premier League requires a lot of physical and mental strength. Another former player, Arjan de Zeeuw, said Memphis is a very good, promising, strong, and quick player with skill.

Memphis has been compared to famous players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Arjen Robben. One person said Memphis is a bit like Cristiano because they have similar skills. They also share a strong desire to be the best. Like Ronaldo, Memphis combines his technical skills with physical power.

Musical Career

Memphis started making hip-hop music in June 2017. He released a freestyle song called "LA Vibes." The music video featured Quincy Promes, his teammate from the Netherlands national team. In December 2017, Memphis released another freestyle track, "Kings & Queens." In October 2018, he worked with other artists on a song called "AKWAABA." He also released a freestyle called "5-mill" when his Instagram account reached 5 million followers.

In December 2018, he released his second song, "No Love." In July 2019, Memphis released "Fall Back." In November 2019, he was featured on a song called "Lange Jas" by the group Broederliefde. In April 2020, he released "Dubai Freestyle."

In September 2020, Memphis released his song "2 Corinthians 5:7." A month later, he released "Blessing." The music video for "Blessing" shows Memphis returning to his hometown of Moordrecht. In his book, Heart of a Lion, Memphis explained that "Blessing" is about how young people wish for many things but sometimes forget to pray. He also said that material success can be empty.

On 27 November 2020, he released his first album, Heavy Stepper. It has nine songs, including "2 Corinthians 5:7" and "Blessing." In 2021, he performed two freestyles on 101Barz. In 2022, he worked with SFB and Quincy Promes on a song called "TAT TAT." In January 2023, he worked with Bisa Kdei on an afro-beat song called "Drinks on Me." He released two more songs in 2023: "Asem Beba" and "Leven Als Een Prof" (which means 'life as a professional'). In July 2023, Memphis released "These Days," a song that switches between Dutch and English. In October 2023, he released "Baby Don't Play," an English afro-beat song inspired by his Ghanaian background.

Memphis has many unreleased songs that can be found online. He says he plans to release them when the "right time" comes.

Discography

Personal Life

Memphis is a Christian. He became a Christian in 2016. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Memphis led a Bible study with his teammate Cody Gakpo and 15 other Netherlands players.

Memphis has many tattoos. One on his left arm honors his grandfather, who passed away the day before Memphis turned 15. When he scored against Australia at the 2014 World Cup, he kissed this tattoo and pointed to the sky. He dedicated the goal to his grandfather. In 2016, he got a tattoo on his left side showing Christ the Redeemer and the date 18.06.14. This date marks his first international goal for the Netherlands. He also has the word succesvol (Dutch for 'successful') tattooed inside his lip. The words 'dream chaser' are on his upper body. In June 2022, Memphis visited Ghana. He did some charity work at the Cape Coast School of the Deaf and Blind.

Career Achievements

Club Honors

PSV Eindhoven

• Eredivisie: 2014–15
• KNVB Cup: 2011–12
• Johan Cruyff Shield: 2012

Lyon

• Coupe de la Ligue runner-up: 2019–20

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2022–23
• Supercopa de España: 2023

Corinthians

• Campeonato Paulista: 2025

International Honors

Netherlands U17

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2011

Netherlands

• FIFA World Cup third place: 2014

Individual Awards

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2011
• Eredivisie top scorer: 2014–15
• Johan Cruyff Trophy: 2014–15
• France Football Best Young Player: 2015
• UNFP Ligue 1 Goal of the Year: 2016–17
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: April 2018
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2020–21
• UEFA FIFA World Cup qualification top scorer: 2022 (12 goals)
• La Liga Goal of the Month: August 2023

Images for kids

• 

  Memphis taking a free kick in a friendly against England in March 2018.

See also

In Spanish: Memphis Depay para niños