Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Liverpool, Everton, Football, Premier League
Luke Davies
Former Liverpool and Netherlands winger Ryan Babel has revealed that an ex-Everton star built a nightclub in his house after he “forgot to pay his rent” during his time with the Toffees.
Babel, who made 146 appearances for Liverpool between 2007 and 2011, uploaded a lengthy post about a home he is trying to sell on X on Thursday.
The property, which he bought when he first signed for the Reds in 2007, has been the subject of stress for the Dutchman in recent years, with the Liverpool Echo previously reporting in February of this year that he could’ve faced losing the house due to mortgage issues.
Babel bought the house for £1.25m and took a “90% mortgage from the bank” as well as putting down a payment of 10%.
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The monthly payments were “only £1,050”, and the former winger claimed that he never missed a payment to lender RBS in “almost 16 years”.
But issues arose when he left the United Kingdom, as “RBS decided that they didn't want people to hold an account with them who don't live in the country” before reportedly sending letters to the house to notify him that his account would close.
Babel then discovered his account had closed when he was living in Istanbul, Turkey and feared that he could lose the house due to being in arrears.
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However, the issues have seemingly passed with Babel claiming he’s “finally cleaned up all the banking drama” on social media.
In the caption alongside several photos of inside the house, the 38-year-old revealed that Drenthe - who enjoyed a loan spell at Everton from Real Madrid during the 2011/12 campaign - rented the property once Babel left Merseyside before describing him as a “tenant from hell”.
Babel wrote: “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!
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“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.”
Drenthe was infamously dropped by David Moyes ahead of the 2011/12 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Everton for turning up late for training.
After Everton decided against making his move to the Toffees permanent, the now-38-year-old went on to play for Reading and Sheffield Wednesday among several other clubs.
He announced his retirement from football following a spell at Kozzaken Boys in November 2023.