Ryan Gravenberch (FC Bayern. Author crop by Sepguilherme. Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Football Star Ryan Gravenberch


 

Ryan Gravenberch a recent signing of Bayern Munich is a Dutch professional footballer who also plays for the Netherlands national team. Notwithstanding his young age of just 19, he has already imposed himself as a starter for Dutch under-21 national team and has proved himself as one of the best upcoming midfielders. He Has previously played for Ajax, one of top teams in the Netherlands league.

He will be playing for Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

1. He Began His football Career At The Age Of 8

Interestingly, he joined Ajax’s academy at the age of eight in 2010. And just eight years later, he became the Amsterdam based club’s youngest ever player to play in the Eredivisie, the name given to the Dutch League.

While still in the academy, he won academy Player of the Year in June 2018 and just three months later, he made his debut for the senior side at the age of 16, overtaking Clarence Seedorf as Ajax’s youngest ever Eredivisie player, whereas he also featured for the under-19s international.

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2. His Body Physique Plays To His Advantage

Gravenberch stands at 6’2” and this allows him to hold his own physically but he also is very agile and quick with his feet. The midfielder operates in a double pivot on the left side and is an all-rounder in regards to his movement.

He is a big asset in the build-up phase, often dropping into the backline to create a numerical advantage, or receiving on the half-turn and looking to drive the ball forward, while also looking to advance forward, particularly towards the left-wing where he can link-up play in the final third.

These unique features play to his advantage as it makes it easy for scouts to spot him. In the light of his unique style of playing, he is often called The Contortionist. Thus, the promising midfielder has the potentials to be a great player very soon.

3. He Had A Choice Between Joining Manchester United And Bayern Munich

At only age 19, Gravenberch rejected interest from Manchester United to join Bayern since he was convinced he would be better off in Bavaria. Though, Die Roten sealed a move for Gravenberch in mid-June to make sure he is integrated into the new environment during pre-season, he is yet to start a Bundesliga season.

He was left out of the Netherlands squad in the current international break due to a lack of game time in Munich.

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4. Often Compared To Some Of The Best Midfielders

Ryan Gravenberch . Author Steffen Prößdorf. Wikimedia Commons

Brian Tevreden, who promoted a 12-year-old Gravenberch to the Ajax U15s, had this to say, “Physically, I see Frank Rijkaard because he’s tall and very strong. But technically, I would say he’s a better version of [Paul] Pogba in his best days at Juventus, in terms of his technique and his presence on the pitch. He’s very dominant like Pogba was, and that’s what I see in Ryan.”

He has also been mentioned alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga when it comes to taking Europe’s best young midfielders into consideration.

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5. He Has Been Nicknamed ‘Ryany’

Nicknamed as ‘Ryany’, he came from a household that eats and drinks football as both his parents used to be soccer players whereas his older brother Denzell was also into football in his childhood.

Therefore for the young ‘Ryany’ from the onset, it was just football or nothing for the middle-class Gravenberch family. Therefore both Danzell and Ryan were delighted to steer their destinies toward their parent’s dream.

6. His Origin Is From South America

Although he is regarded a Dutch player, from his skin color, it is evident that his family have their roots from somewhere different than Holland. Infact, it is said that his origin is from Suriname, a small country located on the northeastern coast of South America. Despite the above, he still prefers to pursue his football career in his household.

7. Though Still Young, He Is Among The Richest Football Association Players

Among the top facts about Ryan Gravenberch it is fascinating to indicate that he is subsisting pretty well on wages and salaries he earns from playing top-flight football while as a young and promising prospect. He has more than a decade of sponsorship and endorsements to enjoy.

He is often referred to as one of the richest Association Football Players and his net worth is $1.5 Million or 225,000 Euros (200,458 Pounds) as he has steadily built his wealth over the years and is sponsored by Adidas as well.

8. He Prefers Not To Be In The Limelight Despite Being Active On Instagram

Outside pitch, he is often described as a calm person who is not big on talking while listens carefully and is also almost imperturbable, even in the stormiest of situations.

Besides, he doesn’t fancy being in the spotlight though. Yet, he is active on Instagram and has gathered around 195 thousand followers.

9. He Is An Ardent Fan Of Netflix

At the times that he has more free times, he would appreciate the lyrical content of Dutch hop scene or binge-watching Netflix. He also takes huge delight in spending quality time with his family and friends, while biking, swimming and pool relaxing are matters of his interest. He often takes his family with him wherever he goes.

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10. He Already Has An Incredible Record

Trophies. Photo by Ariel on Unsplash

Having joined the Ajax academy at the age of eight and scored on his first competitive start in the opening round of the 2018/19 Dutch Cup eight years later, Gravenberch became a major player on the senior scene at Ajax in 2020/21.

He won a domestic double in his first full season with the pros and was an integral part of the side that topped their UEFA Champions’ League group ahead of Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund and Besiktas the following campaign.

It is amazing to note that, Gravenberch turned out 103 times in all competitions for his boyhood club, registering 12 goals and 13 assists. He was among Ajax’s top five most fouled players and for tackles won in 2021/22 as the record Dutch champions successfully defended their Eredivise crown. He has been capped at every youth level and a U17 UEFA Euro winner with the Netherlands in 2018.

 

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