Player Profile

Born in Amsterdam in 2002, Gravenberch joined Ajax's Academy system in 2010 and signed his first professional contract in June 2018, shortly after his sixteenth birthday. In September that year, he made history as the club's youngest ever Eredivisie player at 16 years and 130 days when he came on as a substitute with seven minutes to go in a 3-0 defeat at PSV Eindhoven. Most of is appearances over the next two seasons though were for Jong Ajax in the Dutch second tier. In 2020/21 Gravenberch was a mainstay of the Ajax side in central midfield. He missed just two games, both due to contracting Covid 19. He was also called up the Dutch senior side for the first time. He played in both games against Liverpool in the Champions League group stage. After another impressive season in 2021/22 Gravenberch joined Bayern Munich in the summer for €18 million. Things did not go as hoped however with only 27 of his 33 appearances being as a substitute.

Jurgen Klopp was known to be a long term admirer of Gravenberch, whose box to box style was not suited to Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel's system. A deal was completed on deadline day of the summer 2023 transfer window for a fee reported to be in the region of £34 million. Competition for midfield places was tough but he featured 38 times during his first season, scoring one league goal in a 3-1 victory at Fulham. From the outset, competition for midfield places was intense, and while he showed glimpses of the composure and technique that had made him a standout at Ajax, Gravenberch struggled at times to cement a regular starting role. His debut season was one of adaptation, balancing the demands of the Premier League with the pressure of proving himself at a top club. After almost a year in exile from the Dutch national squad, he was called up for Euro 2024 but did not feature in any matches.

At the outset of the 2024/25 season, Liverpool had been heavily linked with Martin Zubimendi, but the Real Sociedad midfielder chose to remain in Spain, leaving the club to look internally for solutions in the defensive midfield role. Arne Slot, in his first full season in charge, placed his faith in Gravenberch, who was handed the responsibility of anchoring the midfield. The decision proved inspired and Gravenberch was a revelation. He quickly adapted to the physical and tactical demands of the Premier League, combining his technical composure with a keen sense of positional awareness. Over the course of the season, Gravenberch became a linchpin for Liverpool, making 37 league appearances and dictating the tempo from deep positions. His ability to shield the backline, break up opposition play, and progress the ball forward allowed the team to transition more effectively into attack, giving Liverpool a balance they had struggled to find in previous campaigns. Beyond his defensive contributions, Gravenberch showed an eye for decisive passes and late runs into the box. His performances did not go unnoticed. Gravenberch was voted Liverpool’s Young Player of the Season, reflecting both his consistency and impact at a relatively young age. Recognition extended beyond Anfield, as he earned a place in the PFA Premier League XI, marking him out as one of the standout midfielders across the entire division. The season cemented Gravenberch’s status not just as a promising talent but as a central figure in Liverpool’s midfield, providing a foundation around which Slot could build a team capable of challenging on multiple fronts.