Ryan Gravenberch’s professional career (Ajax, Bayern Munich, Liverpool)
Player biography
Ryan Gravenberch is a Dutch footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Liverpool FC and the Netherlands national team.
Gravenberch was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on May 16, 2002. He began his career in Ajax’s youth squad, where he quickly stood out. In 2019, he debuted for Ajax’s first team, aged 17.
Gravenberch is a complete midfielder, with good technique, game vision and passing ability. He is also physically strong and has good pace. In 2022, he was named the best young player in the Dutch Championship.
In 2023, Gravenberch was signed by Liverpool FC for €40 million. He made his debut for the English club on August 6 against Manchester United.
For the Netherlands national team, Gravenberch made his debut in March 2021 against Turkey. He was called up for the 2020 Euro Cup, where the Netherlands reached the semi-finals.
Gravenberch is considered one of the greatest promises in world football. He has everything to become one of the best midfielders in the world.
Professional career of Ryan Gravenberch
Gravenberch in Ajax
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| Gravenberch in Ajax |
Ryan Gravenberch’s career at Ajax was meteoric and full of success. I’ll break it down for you:
Meteoric rise:
- Gravenberch joined the Ajax academy in 2010, aged 8, showing talent from an early age.
- He came through the youth ranks remarkably well, winning the prestigious “Abdelhak Nouri Trofee” in 2018, as the academy’s best talent.
- He debuted for Ajax’s first team in September 2018, aged 16 years and 130 days, becoming the youngest player in the club’s Eredivisie history.
- He quickly gained the starting spot and became a fundamental part of the midfield, known for his refined technique, exceptional vision of the game and ability to create chances.
Domain in the Netherlands:
- Gravenberch has won three Eredivisie titles (2019, 2021, 2022) and two Dutch Cups (2019, 2021) with Ajax.
- He was named Best Young Player in the Eredivisie in 2022, demonstrating his impact on the Dutch football scene.
- He played alongside great players like Daley Blind and Dusan Tadic, constantly learning and evolving.
Emotional farewell:
- In June 2022, after four years as a professional at Ajax, Gravenberch transferred to Bayern Munich for €18 million, attracted by a new challenge in the Bundesliga.
- His departure was marked by tributes from the fans and declarations of affection for the club that formed him.
Lasting legacy:
- Gravenberch left Ajax as one of the greatest talents in the club’s history. His technique, intelligence and leadership inspired a new generation of players.
- His impact goes beyond the titles, as Gravenberch personified Ajax’s “Total Football” style of play, based on ball possession, tempo control and fluid attacks.
Curiosities:
- With Ajax, Gravenberch scored 11 goals and provided 14 assists in 116 official games.
- Actively participated in the Netherlands’ victorious UEFA Nations League campaign in 2022-23.
Gravenberch at Bayern Munich
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| Gravenberch at Bayern Munich |
Gravenberch was signed by Bayern in June 2022 for €18 million, with a further €5 million in variables. He arrived at the club with the mission of replacing Leon Goretzka, who had renewed his contract with Bayern, but also with the expectation of becoming one of the team’s main midfield players.
In the 2022-23 season, Gravenberch played 24 games for Bayern, only starting three times. He scored a goal and made an assist, but failed to establish himself in the starting lineup.
At the start of the 2023-24 season, Gravenberch has not yet managed to stand out. He played 12 games, starting only two. He scored a goal and made an assist.
There are some factors that could explain Gravenberch’s difficulty in establishing himself at Bayern. One of them is the strong competition in the team’s midfield. Bayern has players like Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Jamal Musiala and Marc Roca, who are all starters or candidates for the starting line-up.
Another factor that may have made Gravenberch’s adaptation difficult is Bayern’s style of play. Bayern is a team that plays with a lot of possession and always seeks to attack, which requires a level of physical and technical intensity that Gravenberch has not yet managed to achieve.
Gravenberch in Liverpool
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| Gravenberch in Liverpool |
On 1 September 2023, the last day of the Premier League transfer window , Gravenberch signed for Liverpool on a five-year contract. The fee, officially not disclosed, would have been 40 million euros. On 16 September, Gravenberch made his debut for Liverpool, coming on as an extra-time substitute to replace Mohamed Salah in the 93rd minute of what would be a Premier League away win against Wolverhampton Wanderers .
Gravenberch scored his first goal for Liverpool in a 2–0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise in the UEFA Europa League . Gravenberch started several games in the Premier League in October and November 2023 due to the absence of regular starter Curtis Jones due to suspension and then injury.
Gravenberch in the selection
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| Gravenberch in the selection |
At age 16, he played for the Netherlands U19s in a 4–1 friendly defeat to England U19s
He was called up to the Netherlands senior squad in November 2020. He made his debut in March 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Turkey . On 6 June 2021, Gravenberch scored in an international friendly against Georgia , where the Netherlands won 3–0.
On 4 September 2023, days after signing for Liverpool , Gravenberch declined a call-up to the Netherlands under-21 squad for their European Championship qualifying campaign . The team confirmed that his absence was a choice to “focus on his new club”
Individual achievements and awards
Ajax
- Eredivisie: 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22
- KNVB Cup: 2018–19, 2020–21
Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga : 2022–23
- Supertaça DFL : 2022
Holanda Sub-17
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2018
Individual
- Eredivisie Talent of the Year: 2020–21
- Ajax Talent of the Future (Abdelhak Nouri Award): 2018
- Ajax Talent of the Year (Marco van Basten Award): 2021
- Johan Cruyff Trophy: 2020–21
- Eredivisie Player of the Month: March 2021
- Eredivisie Talent of the Month: March 2022
- Eredivisie Team of the Month: March 2022
- AFC Ajax Club of 100 : 2022
