10 fun facts about Memphis Depay

Memphis Depay, born on February 13, 1994, in Moordrecht, Netherlands, is a renowned Dutch professional footballer. Currently, he plays as a forward for La Liga club Atletico Madrid and represents the Netherlands national team. Depay’s football journey began at a young age when he joined the youth academy of his local club, VV Moordrecht.

His exceptional talent quickly caught the attention of scouts, leading him to make a move to the prestigious youth academy of PSV Eindhoven in 2006. Rising through the ranks, he impressed with his performances and made his senior debut for PSV in 2011 at the age of 17. During his time at PSV, Depay showcased his immense potential and played a crucial role in their Eredivisie title triumph, scoring an impressive 22 goals in 30 league appearances and earning the top scorer award.

His outstanding performances also attracted the interest of top European clubs. In 2015, he secured a move to Manchester United in the Premier League. However, his time at the club was not without challenges. Depay struggled to adapt to the demanding nature of English football and faced inconsistent form. After two seasons with limited playing time, he made a move to Olympique Lyonnais in France in January 2017.

This transfer proved to be a turning point in his career as he flourished in Ligue 1, becoming the focal point of Lyon’s attack. Known for his exceptional dribbling skills, pace, and powerful shooting, Depay consistently delivered impressive performances, contributing with both goals and assists. Additionally, his time at Lyon saw him develop as a leader, serving as the team’s captain and guiding them to multiple top-four finishes in the league.

In 2021, he made a move to FC Barcelona without any transfer fee. Initially, things went smoothly for him as he played regularly under the guidance of his former national team coach Ronald Koeman. He made an impressive start by scoring 12 goals in the league during his first season. However, his role diminished when Xavi Hernandez took charge as the new boss, as he preferred other attackers over him.

Consequently, he decided to join Atletico Madrid, one of Barcelona’s La Liga rivals, in January 2023 for a nominal fee of €4m. His primary motivation was to secure regular playing time. Unfortunately, he faced a series of injuries during the latter half of the season, which hampered his performance.

Since 2013, Memphis has been a valuable asset to the Netherlands national team on the international stage. He gained prominence during the 2014 World Cup and has since been a consistent presence in the senior squad. He has led their attack in significant tournaments like the FIFA World Cup (2022) and the UEFA European Championship (2020).

1. Memphis Depay used to sell drugs

Memphis faced numerous obstacles on his path to success. Growing up in Moordrecht, his hometown, Memphis did not experience a carefree childhood. At the tender age of three, his Ghanaian father, Dennis, left the family. His mother, Cora Schensema, remarried a neighbor in 2002, but unfortunately, their relationship didn’t last either.

Despite facing an unconventional and challenging upbringing, he managed to shape his character. However, being a withdrawn and distrustful child, he often found himself in constant conflicts with his numerous stepbrothers, hindering his ability to open up to others.

For a brief period, he got involved with drugs and associated with criminals. Fortunately, his exceptional football talent once again proved to be his saving grace. At the age of 15, Memphis made the bold decision to leave school and fully dedicate himself to his football career.

2. Why Memphis doesn’t want to be called by his surname?

Up until now, you may have observed a distinct aspect while perusing this collection of interesting facts – we have intentionally avoided using Memphis’ legal surname, Depay. This deliberate choice is not an oversight or coincidence.

It stems from the fact that the talented forward has explicitly expressed his desire not to be addressed by that name, owing to his family background. In an interview with the BBC after his decision to discard his surname in 2012, he candidly stated his sentiments towards his Ghanaian father, who had abandoned him.

He said, “Do not call me Depay, call me Memphis. No, I don’t want to explain exactly what happened at home because I don’t want to make people feel ashamed. And that’s how it will remain because I’ve already moved on .”

3. CR7 is his idol

Cristiano Ronaldo has served as a source of inspiration for numerous prominent figures in the world of football, and Memphis is undeniably one of them. In fact, in his home country, some individuals went as far as dubbing a young Memphis as “The Dutch Ronaldo” due to his remarkable scoring prowess, physical presence, and unwavering self-assurance.

Following his transfer to Manchester United in May 2015, Memphis openly acknowledged Ronaldo as his ultimate footballing role model. He told BBC Sport: “It’s an honour to have a name like that but you have to be real and I am down to earth. He is my idol and a big, big player – maybe the biggest in the world. I watched him a lot. I look at his free-kicks and how he moves.”

4. Memphis loves fashion

Memphis has demonstrated a keen interest in the realm of fashion as well. He has expressed his fondness for style and the satisfaction he derives from being part of the industry. This is evident through his ownership of the clothing line, BADTTW clothing label. Notably, the renowned brand Puma recently joined forces with Memphis’ label to create an inaugural collection.

This collaboration seamlessly incorporates Memphis’ distinctive style into Puma’s iconic T7-inspired t-shirts, jackets, and track pants. Undoubtedly, Memphis recognizes his exceptional fashion sense and skillfully capitalizes on it by leveraging his extensive social media following to establish a successful brand.

5. Memphis is the youngest Dutch goalscorer in World Cup history

Memphis had the honor of representing the Netherlands from the under-15 to under-21 level before he made his mark in the senior team. In 2013, he earned his first senior international cap and it was during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil that he truly shone. A remarkable debut awaited him as he came on as a substitute against Australia, where he not only assisted Robin van Persie but also scored a goal. This achievement made him the youngest Dutchman to score at the World Cup, at the age of 20 years and four months.

6. He is a Rap God

Memphis Depay’s foray into rap music has proven to be quite impressive. He has crafted a number of exceptional tracks within the recording studio, earning him recognition as a talented artist. Collaborating with esteemed Dutch musicians, he has released several noteworthy songs, captivating his audience.

In recent years, he has exhibited his rap abilities through captivating music videos on his highly-subscribed YouTube Channel, boasting nearly 800,000 loyal followers. Notably, the Dutch forward has even established his own presence on Spotify. However, it must be acknowledged that the majority of his songs have not achieved the status of chart-topping hits.

7. He has Ghanaian roots

Ghana, the birthplace of his father whom he barely knows, holds a special place in Memphis’ heart. He has fully embraced his Ghanaian heritage and is determined to give back to the people. In order to deepen his connection with his cultural roots and traditions, he frequently travels to this West African country during the off-season.

Additionally, Memphis actively supports various charitable projects through his foundation in Memphis. Currently, he is sponsoring initiatives such as renovating schools for the deaf and blind in Cape Coast and providing sports equipment like footballs, jerseys, shin guards, and football boots. During his time in Ghana, this part-time music star even had the privilege of meeting President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the esteemed leader of the country.

8. Memphis Depay has tattoo

Memphis has a tattoo in tribute to his grandfather. The tattoo is across his entire torso. When asked about the reason for the tattoo, he said: “That man gave me a lot of strength and took great care of me. At that moment I thought to myself I’ve got to go for it. I know where I want to go, and that is the top.”

9. How tall is Memphis Depay

He is 5ft 9in tall, the same height as Manchester United legend Dennis Law and current Red Devils striker Javier Hernandez (on loan at Real Madrid).

10. Memphis seeks advice from football stars

Memphis is known to seek guidance from the absolute cream of the crop. He recently spilled the beans about his finishing skills to none other than Ruud van Nistelrooy, the legendary striker who netted an impressive 150 goals for both PSV and Manchester United. Now, Memphis is eagerly seeking advice from the best in the business.