It’s commonly understood that professional footballers in the Premier League enjoy a luxurious lifestyle, marked by expansive residences, impressive vehicle fleets, lavish accessories, and leisure time spent in highly desirable locations.
However, opportunities to observe the interiors of these athletes’ residences are infrequent, save for Shola Ameobi’s appearance on MTV Cribs in the early 2000s (where he voiced his fondness for headwear) or the meticulously crafted content shared by players on Instagram.
Therefore, FourFourTwo found it particularly noteworthy when former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel posted images showcasing his initial residence on Merseyside, subsequent to his transfer to the Reds from AFC Ajax in 2007.
Ryan Babel offering £1.25m property that he once leased to problematic Everton player
Babel was 21 when he transferred to Anfield and quickly established himself in the northwest of England, acquiring a spacious residence in the vicinity; however, the acquisition of the property was not without difficulties.
Earlier in the year, he nearly forfeited the £1.25 million property due to mortgage-related issues, which he disclosed on social media in February, but these matters have been resolved.
“After a span of 18 years, I have successfully resolved all the financial complexities and the peculiar narratives involving tenants associated with my initial real estate investment. The moment has arrived to transfer ownership to the subsequent fortunate individual,” the Dutch player communicated via social media recently, signaling the return of the property to the market.
“This dwelling holds a significant number of memories… it marked the first location I occupied upon leaving my familial home, brimming with enthusiasm, missteps, and enlightenment.”
Babel was part of Liverpool for four years, making 146 appearances, after which he went on to play for various clubs including Hoffenheim, Fulham, Besiktas and Galatasaray.
During this time, Babel maintained ownership of the Merseyside property, which he states was rented to former Everton player Royston Drenthe.
The former Real Madrid player was on loan at Goodison Park during the 2011/12 season and has humorously been referred to by Babel as the ‘nightmare tenant’.
“Upon my departure from Liverpool, I leased the property to several individuals… one of whom was my esteemed Dutch teammate, Royston Drenthe. To put it plainly, he redefined the concept of a “nightmare tenant,” Babel commented.
“Somehow, he neglected to remit rent during his time with Everton and even opted to construct a nightclub within my residence without seeking authorization. Such incidents are indeed unbelievable!”
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. 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… pic.twitter.com/CuJViquCoVOctober 16, 2025
Within the images shared by Babel, displaying both the interior and exterior of the house, an expansive open-plan kitchen and dining space is apparent, along with a generously sized driveway leading to the property.
Of particular interest is the presence of what seems to be a decorative front desk, possibly for the nightclub, bearing an ‘R’ embossed into the brickwork, presumably signifying Ryan – or Royston – in the past.
“The sole rationale behind my current decision to sell the property stems from the adjustable-rate mortgage based on interest that I was persuaded into when my knowledge of real estate was minimal. This situation has provided a valuable, albeit challenging, lesson!” Babel stated.
“To whoever acquires this house in the future…I hope it bestows upon you a similar level of happiness (and perhaps fewer unforeseen events) as it has for me.”
