Cody Gakpo asks for privacy following loss of unborn son

Cody Gakpo, a forward for the Netherlands, has requested privacy and space after the death of his unborn son, a loss announced by his partner Noa van der Bij.

Van der Bij shared an Instagram photo of the couple holding hands over a blanket and a knitted hat.

“With broken hearts, we share the devastating news that our baby boy passed away during pregnancy,” she wrote.

“Thank you for your love and support. Elijah Raphael Gakpo. Forever loved. Forever our son.”

She also posted an image of a candle and a cross, accompanied by the message: “We went to church to light a candle. Afterward, we walked to the church playground with our son Samuel.”

“There was only one other child there. His name was Elijah. There could not have been a more beautiful sign from God. He reminded us that our little boy is never far away.”

In a separate post, Liverpool forward Gakpo, who is currently on World Cup duty, wrote: “This is an incredibly difficult time for our family.”

“We kindly ask for our privacy and space. Thank you for your understanding.”

Gakpo, 27, has started all three of the Netherlands’ games in the United States, scoring twice.

Ronald Koeman’s team, who topped their World Cup group, play Morocco in the last 32 in Mexico on Monday.

AFP