Having recently signed a new contract until 2032, Ryan Gravenberch is locked in for the future under Andoni Iraola, but he will need to recover previous form after an indifferent 2025/26 season.
At the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Gravenberch was voted the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season and also took his place in the Premier League’s fan-voted Team of the Season.
It’s worth a reminder of these facts as we look back on his subsequent 2025/26 campaign, as it’s easy to forget the highs he and many other Liverpool players reached in the previous year.
There has been an obvious decline in 2025/26.
A few outstanding long-range goals have covered over some cracks, and though he has still shown some of that trademark ability to carry the ball through midfield and take opposition players out of the game with turns and progress in possession, Gravenberch’s form has dropped sharply from last season.
The same could be said for pretty much all of the Liverpool squad who remained from the 2025 title-winning team. In fact, many of Gravenberch’s teammates were even worse this season and could not even be considered average.
In some ways, this has made Gravenberch one of the better Liverpool players from the most recent season, but it has not been much to shout about, as reflected by his overall season rating shown above.
From young player of the year to a midfielder without purpose
Watching the team this year, it was difficult to believe that any Liverpool player won individual awards as recently as 2025, and even more difficult to believe that they lifted the Premier League trophy just 12 months ago.
Speaking of which, Gravenberch’s midfield partner Alexis Mac Allister was the best midfielder in the league in 24/25 and made the PFA Team of the Year, but experienced one of the sharpest declines this past season.
It’s impossible to assess one midfielder without mentioning the other, as their coincidental drops in form combined to make things look even worse for both.
This then had a knock-on effect on the other areas of the team, behind and in front of them, depending on the phase of the game.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It demonstrated how important it is that a midfield is at least reliable tactically, even if not outstanding individually, but the Liverpool players in these positions were neither in 25/26. It was a problem with team tactics as much as with individuals.
Having gone from being the best midfielders in the league, there were now numerous players in their position, including many from teams finishing below Liverpool in the table, who you would say were better than Gravenberch and his teammates during the past year.
Again, what can be said for Gravenberch can be said for many at Liverpool, and this collective decline indicated a wider problem beyond individual drops in form. This resulted in the fairly obvious decision to make a change in the dugout, as Arne Slot was dismissed shortly after the season ended.
Was a new contract deserved?
Awarding a player a new six-year contract at the end of such a disappointing season raised questions, but it’s the kind of thing Liverpool need to be on top of, especially when the player is in their mid-20s.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch celebrates after scoring the first goal with teammate Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch celebrates after scoring the first goal with teammate Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While £280,000 per week may seem a lot for Gravenberch, Liverpool have lost too many players on free transfers of late, suggesting the sporting director has lost some control over retaining the playing staff’s potential transfer value.
Even if the new manager might not fancy the player, or the club believe they might not feature in their long-term plans, it’s important to have years on the contract if they want a transfer fee when a player leaves.
Incoming transfer fees contribute so much towards things like financial fair play, and profitability and sustainability rules, so losing so many players on free transfers can be costly.
It was therefore important that Gravenberch’s value was retained. Still only 24, there could be many twists and turns in his career yet.
He could well become a key player under Iraola, and if he doesn’t, the contract extension means he will command a fee should the club decide to move him on.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch (L) and captain Virgil van Dijk react as Manchester United score the winning third goal during the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Man Utd won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch (L) and captain Virgil van Dijk react as Manchester United score the winning third goal during the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Man Utd won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The same can be said of his compatriot Cody Gakpo. Even if he is not the most popular, in-form player at the moment, extending his contract made sense in order to avoid the same mistakes made with other players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Mohamed Salah, and Andy Robertson (even though the circumstances around their departures are not all the same).
Gravenberch’s age and availability, having played over 4,000 minutes last season, should make him useful for Iraola, and there is hope that he can return to the form shown in 24/25.
Best moment: A great goal and an assist in the derby at Anfield against Everton, showing his strength in a more advanced No. 8 position.
Worst moment: Being overrun in midfield away at Man City
Role next season: Part of a stronger midfield rotation as Iraola utilises more of the squad.
Darwin Nunez FI
Darwin Nunez FI
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