Ryan Babel

Babel was sold to 1899 Hoffenheim in January 2011, for a sum around half of that which Liverpool paid for him.

His time at Hoffenheim was marred with disciplinary problems with three managers at the club.

Ryan Guno Babel (born 19 December 1986) is a Dutch professional footballer who last played for TFF First League club Eyüpspor.

He can play as a striker or left winger.

Babel began his career at Ajax in 1997, working his way up through the youth team and into the senior squad.

In 1997, he attended a youth selection day with AFC Ajax.

He made it through the first selection round, but failed to progress any further.

However, the next year Ajax accepted him and he played the 1999–2000 season for their D1 team.

After having graduated through the C1, B1 and A1 teams, Babel signed his first professional contract in January 2004.

Playing as a striker, on 1 February 2004, just one and a half months after his 17th birthday, Babel made his first-team debut in Ajax's 4–0 home win over ADO Den Haag in the Eredivisie.

Ajax went on to win the Dutch league title, but Babel didn't feature again that season.

Nine months later, on 20 November 2004 Babel scored his first senior goal against De Graafschap in a 5–0 victory.

Babel was part of the Netherlands national team from 2005 to 2021 and has represented his country at all youth team levels.

In July 2005, Babel signed a new contract with Ajax.

He started the new season by scoring the winning goal in Ajax's 2–1 defeat of PSV Eindhoven in the Johan Cruyff Shield.

Babel scored in both legs of the Champions League third qualifying round against Brøndby as Ajax made it to the group stage.

2005–06 was a tougher season for Babel in general though as he managed only two league goals.

He did however continue to feature for the national team, and scored his second goal against Italy in November.

At the end of the season, Babel came on as a second-half substitute in Ajax's 2–1 victory over PSV in the KNVB Cup final.

He played in two World Cups, 2006 and 2010, reaching the final of the latter.

Babel was born in Amsterdam.

Inspired by the local footballing talent, including Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, Babel played for nearby youth-teams S.V Diemen, then Fortius.

Babel marked the start of 2006–07 with another Johan Cruyff Shield medal, as Ajax defeated PSV 3–1.

Babel was linked with Arsenal and Newcastle United during the January transfer window of the 2006–07 season but no move materialised.

He played three seasons for the first team before he was transferred to Liverpool in mid-2007, where under three successive managers he failed to secure a regular first team position.

Amidst the transfer speculation, Babel agreed to a new three-year deal with Ajax on 2 February 2007.

In May, Babel got another Dutch Cup winners medal as Ajax successfully defended the title.

The match against AZ went to a penalty shoot-out, but Babel was substituted off after 120 minutes.

On 10 July 2007, it was reported that Liverpool had made a £14 million offer to the Amsterdam club.

On 12 July it was reported that Liverpool and Ajax had agreed a fee in the region of £11.5 million, and later Liverpool confirmed that Babel would sign a five-year contract on 13 July.

He was unveiled on 13 July with Yossi Benayoun.

Babel was handed the number 19 shirt.

He made his debut on 17 July against Werder Bremen in a friendly.

He was due to play in the first round of the Barclays Asia Trophy 2007 but had a delay in the granting of international clearance.

This was sorted out in time for the final against Portsmouth.

He made his Premier League debut in the 2007–08 Premier League curtain raiser against Aston Villa away after coming on off the bench.

A week later he made his Anfield debut, coming off the bench against Chelsea.

On 1 September Babel scored his first goal for Liverpool against Derby County.

In the summer of 2012, Babel bought out the remaining final year of his contract, making him a free agent, and re-signed a one-year contract with Ajax.

He then played for Kasımpaşa, Beşiktaş and Galatasaray in Turkey, Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates, Deportivo La Coruña and brief returns to the Premier League with Fulham and a loan to Ajax.