Ryan Babel has finally closed the chapter on his first Liverpool home, a property that witnessed footballing dreams, life lessons, and unforgettable chaos. In a recent social media post, Babel shared one of the wildest moments the house had witnessed, when Dutch teammate Royston Drenthe built a nightclub inside and forgot to pay rent during his spell at Everton.
Babel rented Liverpool home to Drenthe
Babel joined Liverpool in July 2007, transferring for around £11.5m. Over four seasons, he made 146 appearances and scored 22 goals, leaving fans with memorable strikes, including against Manchester United in 2008 and Marseille in the Champions League in the same year. Off the pitch, Babel bought his first home in Liverpool after leaving his parents. The house became a hub of memories, laughter, and lessons and, for a brief spell, chaos. Dutch teammate Drenthe, known for his controversial lifestyle, took over the property, but skipped rental payments during his Everton days in 2011-12 season, and even built a nightclub inside the house, earning the title “tenant from hell,” from Babel.
AdvertisementAFPBad boy Drenthe lived it up in Liverpool
The former Liverpool player opened up about the memories and chaotic times he spent at his Merseyside home. Babel further claims some events were so drastic in nature, it's hard to make such stuff up.
"This house holds so many memories…it was the first place I moved into after leaving my parents’ home, full of excitement, mistakes, and lessons. When I left Liverpool, I rented it out to a few tenants… one of them being my good old Dutch teammate Royston Drenthe. Let’s just say he gave “tenant from hell” a new meaning…he somehow forgot to pay rent during his Everton days and even decided to build a nightclub inside my house without permission. You can’t make this stuff up!," Babel said in a social media post.
He further added: "Still, I’ve always been proud to own this place…it’s in a prime spot, filled with memories, laughter, and a bit of chaos. The only reason I’m selling now is because of that interest-only adjustable-rate mortgage I was talked into back when I knew absolutely nothing about real estate. Lesson learned the hard way!"
Drenthe was a controversial figure both on and off the field throughout his career. Known for his immense talent, he was often overshadowed by his turbulent lifestyle marked by disciplinary issues, late arrivals to training, clashes with managers, and partying, including sneaking girls into the training centre’s jacuzzi late at night. His volatile behaviour led to strained relations with teammates and coaches alike, with David Moyes famously confronting him over his attitude. Drenthe's off-field antics also fuelled his "bad boy" reputation.
Babel's journey post Liverpool
After leaving Liverpool in January 2011, the Dutch forward joined Hoffenheim, making 46 appearances and scoring six goals, before returning to Ajax for the 2012–2013 season, playing 29 matches and scoring 11 goals while mentoring younger players. He then moved to Kasimpasa, becoming a key attacker with over 60 appearances and 17 goals, followed by a short stint at Al Ain in the UAE. Babel later played 13 matches for Spanish side Deportivo, scoring three goals, and then joined Besiktas, contributing 15 goals in over 50 matches and winning the Super Lig title in 2016–17. A brief spell at Fulham preceded his time at Galatasaray, where he scored more than 22 goals in 85 appearances and became a veteran presence.
AFPLife after football for Babel
Babel retired from professional football in November 2024 at age 38. Post-retirement, he has shifted focus to business ventures, particularly real estate and cryptocurrency investments, reflecting the lessons learned from his Liverpool house and career travels. From Anfield goals to managing tenants like Drenthe, Babel’s journey proves that life off the pitch can be just as eventful as the one on it.