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Former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel is selling his home in Merseyside after 18 years, and has shared the story of how former Everton winger Royston Drenthe once built a nightclub inside the property without his permission.
Babel was 20 years old when he signed for Liverpool in 2007 after leaving boyhood club Ajax. Following a 19-year professional career, Babel announced his retirement in November 2024.
The Dutch forward returned to England during the international break and paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota after scoring in a Liverpool Legends' game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Babel has also cleaned up his Liverpool home, but shared a wild story before selling the property.
Babel shared photos of his home on social media, giving fans a taste of how he lived in Liverpool. Babel spent four years there between 2007 and 2011 before moving to Hoffenheim.
The Dutch forward kept the property, and as he departed Merseyside, his international teammate Drenthe signed for Everton on loan from Real Madrid. It appears that Babel rented the property to Drenthe, but his friend got carried away.
Alongside sharing photos of his property, Babel issued a farewell post and told a hilarious story about Drenthe. "My First Home in Liverpool. After 18 years, I’ve finally cleaned up all the banking drama and the wild tenant stories that came with my very first property," Babel wrote on X.
"The time has come to pass it on to its next lucky owner. 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!
"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! Whoever ends up with this house next…I hope it brings you just as much joy (and maybe fewer surprises) as it did me."
Drenthe only spent one season at Everton before he was sold to Russian club FC Spartak Vladikavkaz, which has since dissolved. Drenthe moved back to England in 2013 after signing for Reading.
Babel also returned to England later in his career, joining Fulham in 2019. Babel last played for Eyupspor in Turkey before hanging up his boots.
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