Ryan Gravenberch: Style of play, stats, international caps, previous clubs, odds & more

On current form, Ryan Gravenberch is making his reported £34.2m price tag look a steal for Liverpool.

This is a statement perhaps not all Liverpool fans were expecting following an underwhelming first season for the Reds after being brought to the club by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Breaking through the ranks at Ajax, Gravenberch made a name for himself as one of Europe's brightest talents in Amsterdam.

The start of the 2024/25 season has reminded us why the Dutchman is held in such high regard, with Gravenberch one of the standout performers in Arne Slot's early reign as Liverpool manager.

We examine Gravenberch's background, profile and stats in the latest instalment of In Focus.

Ryan Gravenberch age, nationality & background

Aged 22, Ryan Gravenberch was born on 16th May 2002 in Amsterdam.

Attributes

Height and build

Ryan Gravenberch is 6ft 3in and has a lean and athletic build.

Preferred foot

Gravenberch is naturally right-footed but is comfortable with his left foot.

Style of play

Gravenberch offers significant versatility for Liverpool, with the ability to play in a single pivot, a double pivot, and in a more advanced role as a typical number eight.

The Dutchman is known for his quality in tight areas and his ability to play out of pressure. He is capable of both playing passes in between the lines, as well as receiving the ball between the lines and gliding into advanced areas where he often looks to thread passes between the opposition's defensive gaps.

One of his most impressive and notable characteristics is his ability to drop the shoulder and change direction. Despite his tall stature, he is incredibly nimble and has a low centre of gravity, allowing him to coast past players with ease.

While Liverpool's number 38 is commonly known for his on the ball quality, Gravenberch has made vast improvements to his off the ball game since the arrival of Arne Slot.

The former Ajax youngster has become a staple in Slot's team, starting every league game in a role which has seen him play in a double pivot next to Alexis Mac Allister.

Gravenberch is putting up some imposing defensive numbers in the Premier League this season, with a tackle success rate of 80%. This compares to last season's success rate of 46%.

As a hard-working and technically gifted footballer, he looks set for a successful spell under fellow Dutchman Slot.

Ryan Gravenberch odds

PFA Player of the Year

Premier League

UEFA Champions League

(Odds will display when markets are available).

Ryan Graveberch stats

Premier League 2024/25 stats

Metric	Total	Premier League Rank
Touches	480	10th
Passes	397	12th
Interceptions	10	8th
Tackles	15	23rd

(Source: Premier League).

Career so far

Previous clubs

Ryan Gravenberch joined the Ajax Youth Academy in 2010, and worked his way through the junior levels.

After spending time with Jong Ajax (also referred to as Ajax II) between 2018 and 2020, the Dutch star made his senior debut with Ajax on 23rd September 2018, in a 3–0 Eredivisie loss to PSV.

In 2022, the time came for Gravenberch to move on from his boyhood club, rewarded with a huge move to Bayern Munich.

A disappointing opening season for the Bavarians meant the club were open to the sale of Gravenberch, just a year on from his arrival.

Liverpool were not put off by his poor run of form in the Bundesliga and signed the midfielder for £34.2m, which ended up being Jurgen Klopp's last Liverpool signing. A departing gift from the German.

International caps

Gravenberch was blessed with opportunities in the Netherlands' international youth setup, making appearances at a range of age groups.

He made his senior debut on the 24th March 2021 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Turkey. 

Gravenberch has made 14 appearances for the Netherlands first team. Perhaps this would have been more if he hadn't turned down a call up in 2023, just days after signing for Liverpool, causing slight conflict with Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman.

After being handed limited minutes at Euro 2024 in Germany, Gravenberch has started and impressed at the start of the Netherlands' 2024/25 Nations League campaign, even assisting against Germany.

Ryan Gravenberch: What they said

Of course, this season I want to show myself again. I think I’m [going] in the right way. I have to keep going. I’m happy. He [head coach Arne Slot] just put me in the starting XI and gave me a lot of confidence – and you see it. I think I’m doing really well.

- Ryan Gravenberch

Stay fit, keep going, stay grounded, and don’t listen to praise that much. He is playing with a lot of confidence with and without the ball. He’s very important with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai. It is a good triangle and they are still growing and learning.

- Virgil Van Dijk