Ryan Gravenberch played a major role in helping Liverpool win the Premier League title last season
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Ryan Gravenberch before Liverpool's match against Arsenal
Ryan Gravenberch before Liverpool's match against Arsenal
(Image: ( Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
Ryan Gravenberch has set his sights on winning the Champions League after Liverpool's Premier League title triumph made him hungry for more silverware. The Dutchman played a pivotal role in helping the Reds claim a record-equalling 20th championship last season.
A product of AFC Ajax’s famous academy system, the midfielder made the move to Anfield from Bayern Munich back in September 2023. And his impressive performances last season saw him named Premier League Young Player of the Year.
And having won league titles in Holland with Ajax, Germany with Bayern and England with the Reds, Gravenberch has now set his sights on winning the Champions League, as well as international honours with the Netherlands.
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“As a player, you’re always chasing more,” he said. “That hunger never goes away, and I feel that every day.
“I’m only 23, so I know there are many years ahead and big moments still to come. Winning the Champions League is a massive dream of mine, that’s one I haven’t ticked off yet.
“And of course, to achieve something special with the national team, a Euro or even a World Cup, that would mean everything. There’s still a lot to aim for, and that’s what keeps me going.”
Arne Slot's side secured the title with a 5-1 win against Tottenham on April 27, and Gravenberch admits the scenes he witnessed that day, both before and after the game, will stay with him forever.
“It was honestly something really special, a season I’ll never forget,” he said. “The scenes on the bus as we approached Anfield before the Spurs game, that afternoon we won the league, will stay with me forever.
“The passion on the fans’ faces, the red flares, the noise, the songs, just seeing what it meant to them, it gave me goosebumps. That image will never leave me.
“The celebrations with the lads afterwards, that moment when it really hit us that we’d done it, was incredible. Liverpool’s second Premier League title in five years, and my first.
“From my point of view, as a small child, you dream of these moments, so to achieve this is really special. I’m proud to have played a part in what was an unforgettable season. And now, we’re already looking forward to next season. We’re hungry for more.”
And the 23-year-old, speaking in an interview with Numero Netherlands, admits a certain mindset is required to play for a club like Liverpool.
“I’ve been lucky to play for three historic clubs – Ajax, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool – and honestly, each one is the biggest in its country,“ he said.
“It’s been a real privilege. These are clubs and cities where football runs deep. The fans live for it. They expect everything from you, and when you put on that shirt, you feel the weight of that. It’s something I never take for granted.
“To be honest, I think they’re more alike than people realise. Big clubs demand a certain mentality, that winning mindset. There’s a culture around them, built over the years, that’s all about success. On the pitch, off the pitch – it’s just who they are.”