There is no official report that explicitly states Gravenberch’s religion. In a 2020 interview he did say “I believe in God” and mentioned that he prays before matches. This suggests a theistic faith, but he has not specified a denomination (for example, Christian or otherwise) in public.
Quick Profile: Ryan Gravenberch
| Full name | Ryan Jiro Gravenberch |
| Date of birth | 16 May 2002 |
| Place of birth | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Profession | Professional footballer |
| Current team | Liverpool FC (Premier League) |
| Playing position | Defensive midfielder |
What Religion is Ryan Gravenberch?
When asked indirectly about faith, Gravenberch has spoken of God and prayer. In a 2020 interview he said: “Ik geloof in God. Ik geloof dat ik mijn talent van God heb gekregen. Voor de wedstrijd bid ik altijd.” (“I believe in God. I believe that I have received my talent from God. I always pray before the game.”). This indicates that he holds a religious belief and practices prayer as part of his routine. However, he did not name a specific faith tradition in that quote.
Beyond this personal statement, no authoritative source clarifies his religion. Official profiles (such as the Liverpool FC factfile) discuss his footballing family and career but make no mention of religion. Likewise, mainstream sports media coverage focuses on his performance and background, without addressing his faith. Until (or unless) Gravenberch himself comments further, his precise religious affiliation remains unknown to the public.
Early Life
Ryan Jiro Gravenberch was born on May 16, 2002, to his father Ryan Gravenberch Sr. and mother Aretha in the city of Amsterdam, Netherlands. He is the youngest of two brothers born to his parents, with his older brother Danzell also pursuing a career in professional football. The Gravenberch family represents the Surinamese diaspora community in the Netherlands, maintaining connections to their South American heritage while building their lives in Europe.
Ryan began his football journey at AVV Zeeburgia, a local Amsterdam club, before his exceptional talent caught the attention of Ajax’s legendary youth academy. Gravenberch joined the Ajax Youth Academy in 2010, and worked his way up through the junior levels. At just eight years old, he entered one of the world’s most prestigious football academies, beginning a journey that would eventually take him to the pinnacle of European football.
Career Highlights
Gravenberch made his Ajax senior debut in September 2018 at just 16 years old, becoming the club’s youngest ever Eredivisie player. Three days later he scored in his first start, setting the record as Ajax’s youngest goalscorer in the professional era. On June 13, 2022, Gravenberch signed for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich on a five-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Ajax was a reported €18 million, with an additional €5 million in variables. Joining Bayern Munich represented a significant step in his career, moving to one of Europe’s most successful clubs. However, his time in Germany proved challenging as he struggled to secure regular playing time in Bayern’s star studded midfield.
On September 1, 2023, the final day of the Premier League transfer window, Gravenberch signed for Liverpool on a five-year contract. The fee, officially undisclosed, was reportedly €40 million. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp saw potential in the Dutch midfielder, though Gravenberch initially struggled to find his best form during his first season at Anfield.
Everything changed when Arne Slot became Liverpool manager before the 2024-25 season. At the start of the 2024-25 campaign, Gravenberch was shifted by new manager Arne Slot to a more deep-lying midfield role. This tactical adjustment unlocked Gravenberch’s full potential. He started all 34 games that led to Liverpool clinching the Premier League title in late April with four matches to spare. On April 27, 2025, Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 to secure the Premier League title, with Gravenberch providing an assist for Alexis Mac Allister’s goal.
At the end of the season, Gravenberch was awarded with the Premier League Young Player of the Season award. The award recognized his outstanding campaign in which he played a major role in Liverpool’s Premier League title win, with Gravenberch leading all Premier League midfielders for interceptions with 59.
Awards and Honors
- Club Trophies: With Ajax, Gravenberch won the Eredivisie (Dutch league) in 2018–19, 2020–21, and 2021–22. He also won the KNVB Cup (Dutch Cup) in 2018–19 and 2020–21. At Bayern Munich he was part of the squad that won the Bundesliga in 2022–23. After moving to Liverpool, he contributed to their Premier League title in 2024–25 and was on the team that won the EFL Cup in 2023–24.
- International Honors: He was a member of the Netherlands U17 team that won the UEFA European U-17 Championship in 2018.
- Individual Awards: Gravenberch’s talent earned him youth awards at Ajax: he won the club’s Talent of the Future (Abdelhak Nouri Trofee) in 2018 and Talent of the Year (Marco van Basten Award) in 2021. He was also named the Eredivisie Talent of the Year (2020–21) and won other young player awards for his performances.
Career Earnings
Ryan Gravenberch signed a 5 year, $39 million contract with Liverpool, with an average annual salary of $7.8 million. In 2025, Gravenberch earns a base salary of $7.8 million, which translates to £150,000 per week. This substantial salary reflects his importance to Liverpool and places him among the higher earners at the club.
There have been reports that Liverpool are ready to offer Gravenberch a new long-term deal after his impressive performances, with some sources suggesting his wages could rise to around £187,500 per week. Such an increase would reward his transformation into one of the Premier League’s best midfielders and secure his future at Anfield for years to come.
His career earnings progression tells the story of his development. At Ajax in 2018-19, he earned just €5,000 per year as a youth player, which increased to €90,000 per year in 2019-20 and €340,000 per year by 2021-22. At Bayern Munich, his salary jumped significantly, and his move to Liverpool in 2023 brought him to £150,000 per week, representing a life changing financial transformation.
Personal Life
Ryan Gravenberch has been in a relationship with Cindy Peroti since 2017, when they were teenagers in high school. Cindy Peroti, of Surinamese and Dutch descent, works as a caregiver in a rehabilitation centre and has been by Gravenberch’s side throughout his football journey. The couple has maintained a relatively private relationship despite Gravenberch’s rising fame.
In August 2025, Gravenberch and Cindy Peroti announced the birth of their first child, a daughter, on August 10, 2025. Gravenberch missed Liverpool’s Community Shield match because Cindy was giving birth to their daughter, with manager Arne Slot confirming the reason for his absence. After the birth, Gravenberch posted on social media “Our miracle has arrived,” expressing his joy at becoming a father.
His partner Cindy Peroti shared a heartfelt message on Instagram after his successful 2024-25 season, reflecting on the emotional highs and lows of recent years. She wrote “After a few difficult seasons in which things did not always go well, you really showed who you are this year. You worked very hard, never gave up and kept fighting even when it was hard.” This message revealed the personal struggles Gravenberch faced during his challenging periods at Bayern Munich and early at Liverpool, and the perseverance required to overcome them.
