Ryan Babel

Ryan Babel

Ryan Guno Babel (; born 19 December 1986) is a Dutch football player who currently plays for Ajax in the Eredivisie. He can play as a striker or left winger.

Babel began his career at Ajax in 1998, working his way up through the youth team and into the senior squad. 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. Babel was sold to TSG 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. In the summer of 2012, Babel bought out the remaining final year of his contract, making him a free agent. He then re-signed a one-year contract with Ajax. Babel has been part of the Dutch national football team since 2005, and has represented his country at all youth team levels.