1. Ryan Babel 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.
36 Facts About Ryan Babel
1. 2.
Ryan Babel was sold to 1899 Hoffenheim in January 2011, for a sum around half of that which Liverpool paid for him.
3.
Ryan Babel was part of the Netherlands national team from 2005 to 2021 and has represented his country at all youth team levels.
4.
Ryan Babel played in two World Cups, 2006 and 2010, reaching the final of the latter.
5.
Ryan Babel made it through the first selection round, but failed to progress any further.
6.
In July 2005, Ryan Babel signed a new contract with Ajax.
7.
Amidst the transfer speculation, Ryan Babel agreed to a new three-year deal with Ajax on 2 February 2007.
8.
The match against AZ went to a penalty shoot-out, but Ryan Babel was substituted off after 120 minutes.
9.
Ryan Babel was due to play in the first round of the Barclays Asia Trophy 2007 but had a delay in the granting of international clearance.
10.
Ryan Babel netted twice in the game and almost completed a hat-trick, with a header from a Harry Kewell cross, but was denied by the crossbar.
11.
Former Liverpool and Celtic player Kenny Dalglish has said that Ryan Babel has the ability to terrorise defenders in the Premier League with his pace and trickery with the ball.
12.
Ryan Babel, who has been criticised in the past for his work rate and attitude, earned praise for his efforts in the West Ham game.
13.
Ryan Babel was frequently linked with a move away from Anfield but Rafael Benitez stated his desire for Babel to stay.
14.
Ryan Babel started his first match in the Premier League at Anfield against Aston Villa and scored his first goal in the Premier League with a right-footed volley that beat former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
15.
Ryan Babel gained further notoriety amongst fans when, on transfer deadline day 31 August 2010, it was reported that the player was travelling by helicopter between Liverpool and an unspecified London location as possible transfer talks with Tottenham and West Ham were ongoing, and there was speculation about his true destination.
16.
Ryan Babel is well known for his 'left little finger out' celebration, in support of disadvantaged youths in Amsterdam.
17.
Ryan Babel scored his first goal since returning to Ajax in a match against ADO Den Haag on 23 September 2012.
18.
Ryan Babel was joined in Turkey by fellow Amsterdam-born defender Ryan Donk who made the transfer from Belgian side Club Brugge.
19.
Ryan Babel signed a contract with UAE Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ain to replace the outgoing Miroslav Stoch.
20.
Ryan Babel signed the contract after passing a medical test on 2 July 2015.
21.
In December 2015, Al Ain and Ryan Babel were involved in a conflict over Ryan Babel's disciplinary issues with the club's hierarchy and regarding his use of social media.
22.
Ryan Babel joined Deportivo de La Coruna in La Liga on 17 September 2016, having been without a club since leaving the UAE.
23.
Ryan Babel's contract was set to last for the rest of the calendar year.
24.
In January 2017, Ryan Babel joined Besiktas on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
25.
In July 2020, Ryan Babel returned from loan and played for Galatasaray until his contract expired in July 2022.
26.
On 9 November 2024, Ryan Babel announced his decision to retire from football.
27.
Ryan Babel was born in the Netherlands and is of Surinamese descent.
28.
Ryan Babel took part in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship.
29.
Ryan Babel scored two goals in four games as the Netherlands reached the quarter-finals.
30.
Later that season, Ryan Babel made his international debut on 26 March 2005, away against Romania.
31.
Van Basten has been quoted as saying Ryan Babel "has all the potential to become the next Thierry Henry".
32.
In June 2007, Ryan Babel was part of the Netherlands under-21 team competing in the UEFA Under-21 Championship, being held in the Netherlands.
33.
In May 2008, Ryan Babel was selected for the Dutch squad which would compete in the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament.
34.
Ryan Babel was included in the preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
35.
On 29 September 2017, Ryan Babel was recalled to the Oranje squad after a six-year absence for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Belarus.
36.
The Netherlands failed to qualify for the tournament; despite this, Ryan Babel was regularly called up for the upcoming inaugural UEFA Nations League campaign.