Whenever a young Dutch kid aspires to become a midfielder, they look up to great names like Johan Cruyff, Frank Rijkaard, and Clarence Seedorf. But Ryan Gravenberch, ladies and gentlemen, stands different from others. “My idol in the Champions League was Zinedine Zidane, because of his style of play, his technique, his intelligence. I really liked him. I try to imitate him a bit to learn.”

Odd and awkward as Gravenberch’s idol choice may sound, one shall admit there’s something in the Netherlands’ DNA when it comes to producing talent after talent for the center half of the pitch. Then, of course, what would make us talk about the Liverpool star? Sleek, composed, and strong with a touch of modern-day qualities, only those who truly know the beautiful game can appreciate what Gravenberch possesses.

But it’s the lesser-known side of him that we’re eager to learn about—particularly his life off the pitch. Today, we’ll uncover everything there is to know about Gravenberch’s personal life, including his family, love life, and more.

Early life and meeting the parents of Ryan Gravenberch

Born on May 16, 2002, Ryan Jiro Gravenberch hails from Amsterdam, Netherlands. Coming from Surinamese ancestry, the talented midfielder was raised by his father, Ryan Gravenberch Sr., and his mother, Aretha, specifically, not alone, as the parents also share an older son, Danzell. The family of 4 shares a common love for soccer, with the father and mother already having planned for their boys to pursue the beautiful game professionally since childhood.

Skipping formal schooling, the Gravenberch boys’ education is centered around the game that is watched by billions around the world, so that their children someday they may play. And boy did the hard work and exposure of parents prove favorable, who have played the game at amateur level. Part of it also involves father Ryan Sr.’s exposure, who spent years working in the FA department of ING’s business unit in Amsterdam Southeast. Additionally, he joined the board of Zuidoost United, a football club, in 2015.

Mother Aretha, though a homemaker, played a crucial role in both of her son’s journeys, who began their respective careers at AVV Zeeburgia Youth. Speaking of his older brother Danzell, he came through Ajax’s academy and has played for 12 clubs across various European nations, including the Netherlands, Romania, England, Belgium, and Cyprus, where he currently plays for Karmiotissa FC.

Meanwhile, Ryan Jr. had a shortcut to success, as having enjoyed significant years at Ajax, he joined Bayern Munich for a year before making a switch to Liverpool in 2023. Now that the early life seems to be sorted, let’s take a look at Ryan’s love life.

Does Ryan Gravenberch have a girlfriend?

As of December 2024, Ryan Gravenberch’s relationship status is unknown. The 22-year-old, who boasts over 1.3 million followers on Instagram, hardly ever posted anything that potentially hints about his love life. Even if the former Bavarian star does have a significant other, it’s clear that he isn’t interested in revealing the details as of now.

That only concludes the fact that soccer is the only thing that Gravenberch is purely focused on, while also enjoying the company of his loved ones, family, and friends.