From Bayern despair to Liverpool brilliance: The rise of Gravenberch

Ryan Gravenberch has emerged as Liverpool's engine and one of Europe’s top holding midfielders this season, a sharp reversal from the difficulties he endured at Bayern Munich and a rapid rebound under manager Arne Slot at Anfield.

The Dutch midfielder arrived in England in September 2023 for a reported 34 million pounds, part of a rebuilding phase at Liverpool. His arrival followed a failed pursuit of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, a move that would have reshaped the midfield but collapsed after Slot succeeded Jurgen Klopp. Gravenberch began his time on Merseyside with a holding role, a position in which he helped Liverpool win the Premier League title in Slot’s first season with a restrained, seating-the-team approach. This season, Slot has given him more license, allowing Gravenberch to press higher and influence the game in central areas beyond the defensive work of a traditional six.

His numbers reflect the shift. Gravenberch did not score in 37 league appearances last season; already this term he has two goals in four league games, including the decisive opener in the Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield. In Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Burnley, he produced four shots and created four chances, a level of attacking involvement he did not regularly show in his first season at Bayern. While his defensive metrics—tackles, clearances and winning possession—have remained broadly in line with last season, his higher involvement in central zones has been a catalyst for Liverpool’s balance and rhythm.

The transformation has been widely noted by observers. Danny Murphy, a former Liverpool and England midfielder, has described Gravenberch as Liverpool’s best and most important player this season, highlighting his rare mix of spatial awareness and the capacity to glide past opponents. Murphy noted that only a handful of central midfielders can carry the ball through the lines with such assurance, combining technical quality with athleticism. He added that Gravenberch is a terrific passer whose movement allows him to operate in space and progress play higher up the pitch, a contrast to the more conservative profile of many holding midfielders.

Klopp had long viewed Gravenberch as an exceptional talent when he signed him, but the early spell at Anfield was uneven, with the Dutchman starting relatively few league games in his first season. The arrival of Slot and the near-miss on Zubimendi became the turning point. Slot’s belief in Gravenberch, and his decision to shift away from a rigid, stopgap option toward a player with greater attacking potential, unlocked the midfielder’s best attributes. Slot’s management has, in effect, completed a process that former Dutch colleague Marcel van der Kraan described as turning Gravenberch into a different player: a more attacking, freer player who still preserves his defensive discipline.

Van der Kraan, a chief sports editor for De Telegraaf, noted that Liverpool’s decision to stick with Gravenberch after the Bayern spell came at a moment when the player’s confidence was low but his talent undeniable. He stressed that Slot had seen Gravenberch in his Netherlands role and trusted him to solve a problem for the team. As Slot’s plan unfolded, Gravenberch evolved from a holding midfielder with limited forward impact to a builder of play who can execute from deeper positions and contribute higher up the pitch. The Dutch journalist also pointed to Slot’s knack for drawing out strength from players who had previously underperformed, a quality he has repeatedly demonstrated across Dutch football.

The broader context of Gravenberch’s career underscores the stakes. He burst onto the scene at Ajax, earning early comparisons to Frank Rijkaard for his athleticism and poise in central midfield. Those expectations, however, proved a heavy burden when he moved to Bayern in 2022 for a reported 16 million pounds. He started only three league games in 24 Bundesliga appearances, a baptism that suggested a misfit between the German league’s style and his development at that time. Dutch observers felt the move might have been premature, arguing that Gravenberch would have benefited from staying at Ajax longer to mature before testing himself in one of Europe’s powerhouses. The mental strain of that period was real, and even his father spoke publicly about the challenge of navigating a difficult spell away from home.

With Slot’s arrival and the near-mortem moment of the Zubimendi saga behind him, Gravenberch found a more compatible environment at Liverpool. Slot’s system, which initially used Gravenberch as a holding midfielder, evolved to grant him greater freedom to drive the ball and participate in the attack. The change has coincided with a period of notable success for Liverpool, who have started the season with five wins from five games and sit atop the table. The transformation is not merely tactical; it also marks a personal resurgence for Gravenberch, who had become a father in August and has spoken openly about the new focus and stability in his life contributing to his on-field performance.

Beyond Liverpool, Gravenberch’s development has implications for the Netherlands. National team coach Ronald Koeman is preparing for the World Cup, with Gravenberch viewed as a potential pillar in midfield alongside Frenkie de Jong and Tijjani Reijnders. Van der Kraan suggested Gravenberch will likely be part of the team’s three-man midfield in a 4-3-3 setup, a sign that the player’s current form has restored his standing at the highest levels of international football. The Dutch press has also reflected on the contrast between early hype and late realization, noting that Gravenberch’s progress at Liverpool is a reminder of how a carefully crafted environment can harness talent and unlock potential that might have been dormant under a different path.

Several observers have cited Gravenberch as a model of contemporary midfield balance. Murphy’s assessment positions him among the elite holding midfielders in Europe, a comparison that carries weight given the stature of players such as Rodri. While Murphy tempered expectations by acknowledging Rodri’s absence from much of the previous season, he underscored Gravenberch’s range to operate further up the pitch, making him a more versatile asset than some of his peers. Murphy’s framing of Gravenberch as a player with both technical excellence and athletic dynamism aligns with Slot’s strategic emphasis on ball progression through the middle of the park and the ability to link defense with attack.

Gravenberch’s journey from a much-anticipated Ajax talent to a Bayern setback and now to Liverpool’s midfield keystone illustrates the importance of fit, coaching philosophy, and mental resilience. It also reinforces the broader narrative of European football where the right manager and system can unlock a player’s potential in ways that a larger club’s bigger name might not. As Liverpool press for domestic glory and command a challenge in Europe, Gravenberch’s evolution could shape the trajectory of both club and country for the coming years.