Ryan Gravenberch completes £34m move to Liverpool from Bayern Munich
Liverpool have completed their £34.3 million (€40m) deal to sign midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich on deadline day. Jurgen Klopp has hailed the 21-year-old as an ‘exceptional talent’ and is looking forward to working with him.
Gravenberch Struggles at Bayern
Gravenberch had struggled to secure playing time in his first season at Bayern following his €18.5m (£16m) move from Ajax last year. He had been pushing for a move away this summer and had been approached by both Liverpool and Manchester United.
Klopp Hails Gravenberch as an ‘Exceptional Talent’
Klopp is buoyed by his latest midfield arrival and said: ‘Really happy to bring him in because he’s an exceptional talent. Everybody knows that. He is 21, played over 100 games for Ajax already. Had a, I wouldn’t even say difficult season at Bayern because in that age group it’s completely normal; you go into a world-class team and he had his minutes and stuff like this.’
When asked about his first impressions of Gravenberch after meeting him at the club’s training ground on Friday, Klopp said: ‘Good, really good. He came into my office with his girlfriend, very nice as well. A good couple. Very open. There is everything there what you need.’
Gravenberch Fits Into Liverpool’s Squad
Klopp added: ‘Ryan knows he has to improve things but that’s with 21, it would be crazy if not. But he is super talented, he can drive the ball, he can be really a box-to-box threat, he is going there. He has a good eye for a pass and a good pass. Really excited. It fits into our squad. I said before, we have a big challenge to reinvent pretty much one of the most successful midfields this club ever had, and I really like it. When I look now at the team, it’s a good football team, honestly.’
Klopp also spoke of his long-standing interest in the midfielder from his time at Ajax: ‘Of course. Yeah, of course. We played him, obviously, I think the Ajax game was behind closed doors if I am right, that’s why the memories are not that great for the game. But, Ajax, okay in the moment they have to rebuild their team as well, but the team they had before with him, with [Frenkie] De Jong, with all these boys, that was a really, really good team and playing the way they play is great.’
Conclusion
Liverpool have secured the signing of Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich on deadline day for £34.3 million (€40m). Jurgen Klopp has hailed the 21-year-old as an ‘exceptional talent’ and is looking forward to working with him. The midfielder had struggled to secure playing time in his first season at Bayern and had been pushing for a move away this summer. Klopp is confident that Gravenberch can help the team in both the short and long term.
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