Bayern Munich have done a brilliant piece of business in the transfer market as they managed to sign defender Noussair Mazraoui and talented midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from AFC Ajax. These signings should make Bayern stronger and improve their chances of winning the Champions League next season as well as all domestic trophies.
Noussair Mazraoui
Mazraoui was born in a small Dutch town called Leiderdorp in 1997. He started his career when he joined local team AVV Alphen in 2002 and played there for three years. After impressing he joined the youth set up of Alphense Boys. However, he only played there for a year before he was scouted and joined the renowned Ajax youth academy alongside players such as Mattijas De Ligt and Sergiño Dest.
Mazraoui gradually worked his way up through the youth academy before being sent out to sister club Jong Ajax in order to get some more experience. He made his debut for Jong Ajax in 2016 coming on as they won by four goals to one against Almere City. Mazraoui would go on to play 33 matches that season managing to score six times as well as get six assists.
Following his brilliant performances for Jong Ajax, Mazraoui was recalled to Ajax and made his debut for the first team in 2018 when he came on as Ajax comfortably won against NAC Breda. However, he only made eight first-team appearances that season.
The following season he was promoted to a first-team starter, and he began to show his quality. He would play 28 times in the Eredivisie getting one goal and one assist. Mazraoui also played 17 games in the champions league getting two goals and two assists, he also made three appearances KNVP cup. Mazraoui then played 21 times the following season and was named the Eredivise talent of the year.
Last season Mazraoui played a total of 26 times scoring one goal and getting one assist. This season Mazraoui has had the best of his career so far playing 26 times and managing to score five times as well as get four assists. Next season Mazraoui will hope that he can light up the Bundesliga just like he lit up the Eredivisie.
Ryan Gravenberch
Ryan Gravenberch was born in 2002 in Amsterdam. Gravenberch was constantly exposed to football during his early childhood mainly because both of his parents were footballers.
When he was eight years old Gravenberch started playing for local team AVV Zeeburgia. However, it did not take long before he joined the Ajax youth academy like Mazraoui. After eight years in the academy, Gravenberch quickly established himself as one of the best players in De Toekomst and was the first young player to be awarded Abdelhak Nouri Trofee. In addition on the very same day, he signed his first professional with Ajax.
Gravenberch made history when he made his debut for the Ajax senior team at just 16 years old making him the youngest player to participate in the Eredivisie so far. He also made club history by becoming the youngest player to score up to this point.
The next few seasons Gravenberch would go on to establish himself as a vital first-team player and be part of a very good Ajax team playing alongside players like Donny Van De Beek and Hakim Ziyech. Gravenberch has made 71 appearances in the Eredivisie scoring seven times and getting 11 assists as well as playing 14 times in the champions league.
How will they fit into Bayern's first team next season?
Bayern have already got an outstanding squad which asks the question how will Gravenberch and Mazraoui fit into the first team next season? Bayern have played with a 3-4-2-1 formation this season however at times they have looked a little vulnerable defensively.
In addition one of Leon Goretzka or Joshua Kimmich at some point this season was injured for a period of time which severely hampered their strength in midfield. This season central midfield was the one area where Bayern did not have good depth with Corentin Tolisso and Marcel Sabitzer as back up both of whom have found it difficult in a Bayern shirt.
However, the acquisition of Gravenberch means that next season Bayern will have one of the best talented young midfielders in the world, and if he performs well he might even become a regular starter.
Meanwhile, Mazraoui would potentially play on the right-hand side of a midfield four next season acting as a wing-back. Mazraoui could potentially become the regular first choice as he will be in direct competition with Buno Sarr and Benjamin Pavard neither of whom have clearly stamped their claim on the position. In addition, the chemistry between Mazraoui and Gravenberch who both played for Ajax and know each other's strengths and weaknesses could make Bayern's right-hand side extremely difficult for teams to play against.
Either way, whether they jump straight into the first team or start on the bench these two players should help Bayern be stronger next season, and with rumors circling of other transfers Mazraoui and Gravenberch could just be the start.