AFC Ajax midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has opened up on his future at the club amid strong interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Speaking to Algemeen Dagblad, as relayed by GOAL, Ajax and Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has vowed that he will not leave the club on a free transfer amid links with European giants Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Gravenberch is widely regarded as one of the finest young midfield prospects in the game. The 19-year-old has established himself as a mainstay in the centre of the park for Erik ten Hag’s side over the past couple of years and has become a regular in the Netherlands national team as well.
The youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with several top clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, taking a serious interest in him. Heading into the summer, Gravenberch will be entering the final year of his contract with Ajax, which has only served to fuel the speculation surrounding his future.
The 19-year-old has now spoken out on the topic, admitting that he is undecided about his future as yet. However, he insisted that there is no way he would think of leaving Ajax on a free transfer by running down his contract in 2023.
Gravenberch: “I don't know if I will leave in the summer. What I do know for sure is that I won't leave Ajax if they don't get anything back. I can't leave on a free transfer. This won't happen”, he told @ADnl. ?? #Ajax
FC Bayern are interested – but there’s no official bid yet. pic.twitter.com/XhMkoEuuev
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 22, 2022
“It is with my agent and my father,” Gravenberch said. “I don’t know if I’ll be leaving next summer. What I do know for sure is that I will not leave if Ajax does not earn anything from me. I played here all my childhood. Ajax has always been good to me. I owe a lot to the club. So I can’t leave on a free transfer. That will not happen.”
At the same time, the midfielder added that he would be more than happy to test himself in a different league in case an opportunity presented itself later this year.
“On the other hand, it’s not bad to step out of your comfort zone,” he added. “A different competition, a different football, a different way of life, different people around you. But that could also be done at 22, for example. I know my own qualities and, if it happens next summer, I feel ready for that. But it is far from happening yet.”
Gravenberch made his first-team debut for Ajax in 2018, at the age of 16. He has since made 92 appearances for the club, scoring ten goals and registering 11 assists. He also has ten caps for the Netherlands national team. An exciting, young prospect, he is on the radar of Manchester City and Barcelona as well. It will be interesting to see whether the 19-year-old decides to leave Ajax this summer for a new club.
AFC Ajax midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has opened up on his future at the club amid strong interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Speaking to Algemeen Dagblad, as relayed by GOAL, Ajax and Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has vowed that he will not leave the club on a free transfer amid links with European giants Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Gravenberch is widely regarded as one of the finest young midfield prospects in the game. The 19-year-old has established himself as a mainstay in the centre of the park for Erik ten Hag’s side over the past couple of years and has become a regular in the Netherlands national team as well.
The youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with several top clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, taking a serious interest in him. Heading into the summer, Gravenberch will be entering the final year of his contract with Ajax, which has only served to fuel the speculation surrounding his future.
The 19-year-old has now spoken out on the topic, admitting that he is undecided about his future as yet. However, he insisted that there is no way he would think of leaving Ajax on a free transfer by running down his contract in 2023.
Gravenberch: “I don't know if I will leave in the summer. What I do know for sure is that I won't leave Ajax if they don't get anything back. I can't leave on a free transfer. This won't happen”, he told @ADnl. ?? #Ajax
FC Bayern are interested – but there’s no official bid yet. pic.twitter.com/XhMkoEuuev
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 22, 2022
“It is with my agent and my father,” Gravenberch said. “I don’t know if I’ll be leaving next summer. What I do know for sure is that I will not leave if Ajax does not earn anything from me. I played here all my childhood. Ajax has always been good to me. I owe a lot to the club. So I can’t leave on a free transfer. That will not happen.”
At the same time, the midfielder added that he would be more than happy to test himself in a different league in case an opportunity presented itself later this year.
“On the other hand, it’s not bad to step out of your comfort zone,” he added. “A different competition, a different football, a different way of life, different people around you. But that could also be done at 22, for example. I know my own qualities and, if it happens next summer, I feel ready for that. But it is far from happening yet.”
Gravenberch made his first-team debut for Ajax in 2018, at the age of 16. He has since made 92 appearances for the club, scoring ten goals and registering 11 assists. He also has ten caps for the Netherlands national team. An exciting, young prospect, he is on the radar of Manchester City and Barcelona as well. It will be interesting to see whether the 19-year-old decides to leave Ajax this summer for a new club.