Memphis Depay facts for kids
Memphis with Lyon in 2019
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 13 February 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Moordrecht, Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Corinthians | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 13 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 98 | (46) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
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Memphis Depay (born 13 February 1994), often called just Memphis, is a Dutch professional footballer. He plays as a forward for the Brazilian club Corinthians and for the Netherlands national team.
Memphis started his professional career at PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. He became a very important player there, scoring 49 goals in 124 games. In the 2014–15 season, he was the top scorer in the Eredivisie league with 22 goals. He helped PSV win their first league title since 2008. Because of his great playing, he was named the "Best Young Player" in the world in 2015 by France Football magazine.
In June 2015, Memphis moved to the English club Manchester United. After a short time there, he joined the French club Lyon in January 2017. He played five seasons with Lyon before moving to Barcelona in 2021. Later, he joined Atlético Madrid in 2023 and then Corinthians in 2024.
Memphis has played for the Netherlands national team at many levels. 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, where he became known internationally. He has also played in UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and Euro 2024.
Early Life and Name Change
Memphis Depay was born in a small Dutch village called Moordrecht. 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 just Memphis. He once said, "Do not call me Depay, call me Memphis." This was a way for him to show that he wanted to move forward from his past family difficulties.
Club Career Highlights
Starting at PSV Eindhoven
Memphis started playing football at a young age. When he was eight, scouts from Sparta Rotterdam noticed his talent. He joined Sparta and played there for three seasons. A club leader said Memphis was "already complete" as a young player, meaning he was very skilled with both feet and strong.
When he was 12, bigger clubs like Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord were interested in him. His grandfather, who was an Ajax fan, told Memphis to join PSV.
Early Years and First Steps
In 2011, Memphis trained with PSV's main team while also playing for their reserve team. He played his first official game on 21 September 2011 in a cup match, scoring a goal in an 8–0 win. His first league game was on 26 February 2012. 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 also played in the 2012 KNVB Cup Final, which PSV won 3–0. In June, he signed his first professional contract with PSV, which lasted until 2017. He also helped PSV win the 2012 Johan Cruyff Shield by beating Ajax 4–2.
Becoming a Key Player
Memphis scored his first goal in a European competition on 30 July 2013. This was in a Champions League qualifying game against Zulte Waregem, which PSV won 2–0. He scored again in the Europa League on 3 October. On 15 December, he scored twice in a 5–1 win against Utrecht, helping PSV get a much-needed victory.
Memphis helped PSV secure a spot in European competitions for the 41st year in a row. He scored a goal in a 2–0 win against NAC Breda on the last day of the season, which meant PSV finished fourth in the league.
Top Scorer and League Champion
After playing well at the 2014 World Cup, many big clubs wanted to sign Memphis. Despite this, he started the 2014–15 season strongly for PSV. He scored two goals in the first league game and two more in the next, including two free-kicks. He also scored two goals in a Europa League play-off game, helping PSV reach the group stage.
On 18 April 2015, Memphis scored a fantastic free-kick from far away in a 4–1 win. This win secured PSV's 22nd Eredivisie title, their first since 2008. He finished the season as the league's top scorer with 22 goals.
Time at Manchester United
On 7 May 2015, PSV announced that Memphis would be moving to Manchester United. The transfer fee was reported to be around £25 million. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said he wanted to sign Memphis quickly because other clubs were also interested. On 12 June, Memphis officially joined United on a four-year contract. He was given the famous number 7 shirt, which had been worn by legendary players like George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Memphis played his first game for Manchester United in a friendly match on 17 July. He scored his first goal for the club four days later. His Premier League debut was on 8 August. On 18 August, he scored his first two goals for United in a Champions League play-off game. He scored again in the Champions League group stage against his old team, PSV. On 26 September, he scored his first league goal, helping United win 3–0 and reach the top of the league.
Memphis faced some challenges adapting to the Premier League. He said there were many games and not much rest. He was sometimes left out of the starting team. However, he scored his second league goal in November, which earned him praise from his manager. In February, he scored in two Europa League matches, helping United win. His manager called this a "turning point" for him.
During the 2016–17 season, Memphis played very little for Manchester United. He only made four appearances in the Premier League, all as a substitute. His last game for the club was in November 2016.
Moving to Lyon
On 20 January 2017, Memphis signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the French club Lyon. The transfer fee was about £16–17 million. He made his debut for Lyon two days later and his first start on 28 January.
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On 12 March, Memphis scored an amazing goal from near the halfway line against Toulouse. He called it "the goal of my life." On the last day of the 2017–18 season, Memphis scored three goals against Nice, helping Lyon win 3–2 and qualify for the Champions League.
In November 2019, Memphis scored his fourth goal in four games for Lyon in the Champions League. In December, he scored an equalizer against RB Leipzig, helping Lyon reach the knockout stage. Sadly, on 15 December, Memphis suffered a serious knee injury that ended his season. He returned from his injury in July 2020.
On 7 August, Memphis scored in his sixth Champions League game in a row. Lyon went on to reach the semi-finals of the competition. On 28 August 2020, he scored three goals in Lyon's first game of the 2020–21 season.
Playing for Barcelona
On 19 June 2021, the Spanish club Barcelona announced that Memphis would join them on a free transfer. His grandmother said that he had dreamed of playing for Barcelona since he was four years old. On 15 August, Memphis played his first game for Barcelona. Six days later, he scored his first goal for the club in his second match.
Time at Atlético Madrid
On 20 January 2023, Memphis signed a contract with Atlético Madrid, another Spanish club. The transfer fee was over €4 million. He scored his first goal for Atlético on 12 February. On 13 March 2024, Memphis scored a winning goal in the Champions League against Inter Milan, helping his team win on penalties and move to the next round. On 22 May 2024, Memphis and Atlético Madrid decided to go their separate ways.
Joining Corinthians
On 9 September 2024, Memphis signed a two-year contract with the Brazilian club Corinthians. He scored his first goal for the club on 18 October 2024. On 4 December, Memphis scored two goals, including a fantastic free-kick, and helped his teammate score, as Corinthians won 3-0.
International Career
Youth Teams
Memphis was a member of the Netherlands 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 Netherlands national team on 15 October 2013. He was chosen by manager Louis van Gaal to be part of the team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He came on as a substitute in the second group match against Australia and scored the winning goal. He also helped set up another goal. This made him the youngest Dutchman to score a goal at the World Cup, at 20 years old. He scored again in the final group match against Chile, helping the Netherlands win 2–0.
In July, Memphis was nominated for the tournament's "Best Young Player" award, but it was won by Paul Pogba.
In October 2015, Memphis had a disagreement with a teammate during a training camp. The manager said they talked about it and it was resolved. The next month, Memphis was not selected for some friendly matches.
Memphis was part of the Netherlands squad for UEFA Euro 2020. He scored twice in four matches before the team was knocked out. On 7 September 2021, Memphis scored his first three goals in one game for his country against Turkey. This brought his total goals to 33, matching the records of famous Dutch players Johan Cruyff and Abe Lenstra.
On 14 June 2022, Memphis scored a winning goal against Wales in the UEFA Nations League, reaching 42 international goals. In November 2022, he was part of the Dutch team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. On 3 December, he scored a goal against the United States, becoming the second all-time top scorer for his country with 43 goals, behind Robin van Persie.
In May 2024, Memphis was named in the Netherlands' squad for UEFA Euro 2024.
How Memphis Plays
Early in his career, a coach described Memphis as "very angry." Now, he works with a life coach to help him stay focused. In 2015, he was described as a powerful 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 excellent free-kick ability. In the 2014–15 season, he was one of the best free-kick takers in Europe, scoring 7 times from 33 attempts.
Former Dutch international player Ronald Koeman called Memphis "a great talent." He said Memphis needed to keep improving because of how physically and mentally tough the Premier League is. Some people have compared Memphis to famous players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Arjen Robben. They say he has similar skills and a strong desire to be the best.
Musical Career
Memphis started making hip-hop music in June 2017. He released a freestyle song called "LA Vibes," which featured his teammate Quincy Promes. The music video quickly gained many views online. In December 2017, he released another freestyle called "Kings & Queens."
He has collaborated with other artists and released more songs, including "AKWAABA" and "No Love." In July 2019, he released "Fall Back." In 2020, he released "Dubai Freestyle" and his debut album, Heavy Stepper, which included songs like "2 Corinthians 5:7" and "Blessing."
Memphis has continued to release music and collaborate with other artists in recent years. He has many unreleased songs that he plans to share when the "right time" comes.
Discography
| Track no. | Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | "LA Vibes (feat. Quincy Promes)" | 2017 | Non-album freestyle |
| — | "Kings & Queens Freestyle" | ||
| — | "5 Milli Freestyle" | 2018 | |
| 7 | "Porto Cervo (Interlude) (feat. Memphis Depay)" | "Oprecht Door Zee" - Winne | |
| 18 | "Akwaaba feat. Memphis Depay & Nana Fofie" | ||
| — | "No Love" | Non-album single | |
| — | "Fall Back" | 2019 | |
| 11 | "Lange Jas (feat. Memphis Depay)" | “Broeders" – Broederliefde | |
| — | "Dubai Freestyle" | 2020 | Non-album freestyle |
| 01 | "Heavy Stepper (feat. Arra)" | Heavy Stepper EP | |
| 02 | "Body Like You (feat. Zah Santori)" | ||
| 03 | "From Ghana feat. Rass King & Bisa Kdei" | ||
| 04 | "4AM Palm Flow" | ||
| 05 | "Big Fish" | ||
| 06 | "For A Week" | ||
| 07 | "2 Corinthians 5:7" | ||
| 08 | "Blessing" | ||
| 09 | "D.B.A. (feat. Yasmin Lauryn)" | ||
| 02 | "TAT TAT( feat. Memphis Depay & Quincy Promes)" | 2022 | "Reset The Levels IV" - SFB |
| 03 | "Drinks on Me (feat. Memphis Depay)" | 2023 | "ORIGINAL" - Bisa Kdei |
| — | "Asem Beba" | Non-album single | |
| — | "Leven Als Een Prof" | ||
| — | "These Days" | ||
| — | "Baby Don't Play" |
Personal Life
Memphis is a Christian. He became a Christian in 2016. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he led a Bible study with his teammate Cody Gakpo and 15 other Netherlands players.
Memphis has many tattoos. One on his left arm is a tribute to his grandfather, who passed away when Memphis was almost 15. When he scored against Australia at the 2014 World Cup, he kissed this tattoo and pointed to the sky, dedicating his goal to his grandfather. He also has a tattoo of Christ the Redeemer on his left side, with the date of his first international goal. He has the word succesvol (Dutch for 'successful') tattooed inside his lip and 'dream chaser' on his upper body.
In April 2020, Memphis was criticized by some animal rights groups for posting pictures with a liger cub while on vacation. He said that ligers are not wild animals.
In June 2022, Memphis visited Ghana and did some charity work at a school for the deaf and blind.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| PSV Eindhoven | 2011–12 | Eredivisie | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 4 | ||
| 2012–13 | Eredivisie | 20 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||
| 2013–14 | Eredivisie | 32 | 12 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 2 | — | 43 | 14 | |||
| 2014–15 | Eredivisie | 30 | 22 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 6 | — | 40 | 28 | |||
| Total | 90 | 39 | 9 | 2 | — | 24 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 124 | 49 | |||
| Manchester United | 2015–16 | Premier League | 29 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | — | 45 | 7 | |
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 7 | ||
| Lyon | 2016–17 | Ligue 1 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 5 | ||
| 2017–18 | Ligue 1 | 36 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | — | 51 | 22 | ||
| 2018–19 | Ligue 1 | 36 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 47 | 12 | ||
| 2019–20 | Ligue 1 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 6 | — | 22 | 15 | ||
| 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 37 | 20 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 40 | 22 | ||||
| Total | 139 | 63 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 76 | ||
| Barcelona | 2021–22 | La Liga | 28 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 13 | |
| 2022–23 | La Liga | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Total | 30 | 13 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 14 | |||
| Atlético Madrid | 2022–23 | La Liga | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 4 | |||
| 2023–24 | La Liga | 23 | 5 | 5 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 9 | ||
| Total | 31 | 9 | 6 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 13 | |||
| Corinthians | 2024 | Série A | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 14 | 7 | ||
| 2025 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 7 | |||
| Career total | 334 | 133 | 29 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 80 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 453 | 166 | ||
International Appearances
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 2013 | 3 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2018 | 10 | 5 | |
| 2019 | 8 | 6 | |
| 2020 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 16 | 17 | |
| 2022 | 11 | 5 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 10 | 2 | |
| Total | 98 | 46 | |
Trophies and Awards
PSV Eindhoven
- Eredivisie: 2014–15 (Dutch League Champions)
- KNVB Cup: 2011–12 (Dutch Cup Winners)
- Johan Cruyff Shield: 2012 (Dutch Super Cup Winners)
Lyon
- Coupe de la Ligue runner-up: 2019–20 (French League Cup Finalist)
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2022–23 (Spanish League Champions)
- Supercopa de España: 2023 (Spanish Super Cup Winners)
Netherlands U17
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2011 (European Champions)
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 (Best Young Player in the Netherlands)
- 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
See also
In Spanish: Memphis Depay para niños
