Memphis Depay

Memphis Depay, also known as Memphis, is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Netherlands national team and La Liga side Atletico Madrid. Memphis is two-footed and a winger who plays mainly in the position of left-wing. He was widely considered to be one of the best young players in world football. He was also given the Best Young Player in the World award by France Football in 2015.

Early Life

Depay was born on February 13, 1994, in Moordrecht, Netherlands. Memphis Depay had a troubled youth and was involved in several incidents as a teenager. He was expelled from high school and was briefly placed in a youth detention center. However, he turned his life around through his football career.

Memphis began his career at the age of 6 by joining local academic club of his hometown, Moordrecht. Staying with the club for three straight years, he was trained and cultivated. In 2003, he united with Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam and played for the club till 2006. Eventually, he moved to PSV Eindhoven and played for the youth team of the club until he got promoted to the senior team in 2011.

Club Career

Memphis made his official debut for PSV Eindhoven on 21 September 2011 in a KNVB Cup match against VVSB whereas his Eredivisie debut came on 26 February 2012, coming in as a replacement in the 89th minute of the 3-2 victory against Feyenoord. He quickly established himself as a key player and helped his team win the Eredivisie title in the 2014-15 season. In that season, he was also the top scorer in the league with 22 goals.

In 2015, Memphis Depay was signed by Manchester United for a transfer fee of €34 million. He struggled to adapt to the Premier League and was not able to replicate his form from the Netherlands. He spent two seasons with Manchester United, making 53 appearances and scoring 7 goals.

In January 2017, Memphis Depay was sold to Lyon for a fee of €16 million. He helped them reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2019-20 season. In the 2020-21 season, he was the top scorer for Lyon with 20 goals in all competitions.

In June 2021, Memphis Depay signed a two-year contract with Barcelona on a free transfer. He struggled for consistency, only scoring 14 goals in 42 appearances. On 20 January 2023, Atlético Madrid announced the signing of Memphis for €4 million on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

International Career

Memphis Depay started his international career with the Netherlands youth teams, playing for the Under-17, Under-19, and Under-21 teams. His international debut for the Dutch team came on 15 October 2013, coming in as a replacement for his teammate Jeremain Lens in the last minute of the 2-0 away win against Turkey in the World Cup qualifiers.

He has since played in several international competitions, including the 2014, 2018, and 2022 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2021.

Depay helped the Netherlands reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League in 2019. He also played a key role in helping the team qualify for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, scoring 6 goals in 6 matches.

Memphis Depay was temporarily appointed as the captain of the Netherlands national team in September 2020 after Virgil van Dijk suffered a long-term injury.

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he scored a goal in a 3–1 win over the United States in the round of 16. This made him Netherlands’ second all-time goal scorer with 43 goals in 86 appearances.

Records

• Depay became the first player in Eredivisie history to score in nine consecutive away matches during the 2014-15 season.

• He is the top scorer for the Netherlands national team in UEFA European Championship history with 6 goals.

• He was the top scorer in the UEFA Europa League in the 2016-17 season with 7 goals.

Awards and Achievements

Personal Life

Memphis Depay is a Christian and often shares his faith on social media. He has a tattoo of a cross on his arm and has spoken publicly about the role of religion in his life. He is known for his philanthropic work, particularly in helping underprivileged children. He founded the Memphis Foundation in 2017 to support projects that promote sports and education for children.

Depay is also a musician and has released several rap songs in Dutch. He has expressed a desire to pursue a music career after retiring from football. He also has a unique sense of style and has collaborated with several fashion brands. He has also launched his own clothing line called OGL, which stands for "Original Lifestyle God."

Net Worth

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $23 million.

Family

He was born to a Ghanaian father, Dennis Depay, and a Dutch mother, Cora Schensema, but his father abandoned the family when Memphis was only four years old. As a result, he was raised primarily by his mother, who worked long hours to support the family. Since 2012, Memphis has dropped his last name to sever ties with his father.

Memphis has four siblings, including two brothers and two sisters. His younger brother, Jeffrey, is also a professional footballer who currently plays for the Dutch club RKC Waalwijk.

Partner

Memphis Depay has been in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend Lori Harvey, an American model and socialite. The couple started dating in 2019 and got engaged in June 2021.

Houses

In 2015, when Memphis Depay played for PSV Eindhoven, he bought a stunning villa in the city. The house featured a private swimming pool, a sauna, a gym, and a home theater.

When Memphis played for Manchester United, he rented a luxurious apartment in the city's Northern Quarter. The apartment featured floor-to-ceiling windows, an open-plan living space, and a rooftop terrace.

When he joined Barcelona, Memphis has reportedly been living in a luxury apartment in the city's exclusive Diagonal Mar neighborhood. The apartment features stunning views of the sea, a large terrace, and access to a communal pool and gym.