FCB reveals unusually high Gravenberch shirt number - it is reminiscent of his professional debut

Created: 07/01/2022, 10:45 am

By: Antonio Jose Riether

FC Bayern's newcomers recently chose their new shirt numbers.

Ryan Gravenberch chose an unusually high number - for a special reason.

Munich - Shirt numbers in football are becoming increasingly important.

Players with the shirt number seven are still considered filigree technicians who can sometimes decide the game, the nine wears the goal scorer and the ten the playmaker of the team.

Unusual shirt numbers are also in fashion. Pioneer Bixente Lizarazu already wore the number 69 on his shirt between 2005 and 2006.

FC Bayern newcomer Ryan Gravenberch wasn't quite as inspired when he chose his future jersey number.

FC Bayern newcomer Ryan Gravenberch can no longer wear his number 8

Gravenberch has been an official FC Bayern player since his contract began on Friday, which brought him from his youth club Ajax Amsterdam for a transfer fee of 18.5 million euros.

He is scheduled to play in Munich until 2027, which is why choosing his long-term shirt number was probably not easy for him.

The central midfielder didn't have a great deal of choice with many popular numbers already taken.

His former number eight, which he wore at Ajax for the last two seasons, is already worn by Leon Goretzka.

If you want to buy the record champions' current home jersey, the official online fan shop is the first port of call.

There the fans can select their desired player flock, which is why the numbers are also displayed in a selection.

The jersey has also been available with its new shirt number, the 38th, since Thursday.

Ryan Gravenberch made his debut at the age of 16 - his shirt number commemorates that day

The high number probably has a special meaning for the 20-year-old.

Although he only wore the 38 in his first season with the Ajax pros, he made his Eredivisie debut with it at the age of just 16.

At the end of September 2018, former Bayern amateur coach Erik ten Hag brought him on for the final minutes of a 3-0 loss at PSV Eindhoven, but it wasn't until the following season that he fought his way into the professional team on a permanent basis.

Gravenberch made his debut on September 23, 2018 at the age of 16 - and number 38. © Pro Shots / imago

So he only wore the 38 in one league game, in the Bundesliga he is now reviving it.

Gravenberch is the eighth player and the first major star to take on the relatively high number.

Previously, they wore exclusively players who were raised from the reserve team.

King transfer Sadio Mané's jersey number was also recently unveiled, albeit a little more spectacularly.

(ajr)