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Ryan Babel has named the former Everton star who once transformed his home into a nightclub while renting it and labelled the Toffees' flop as a 'tenant from hell'.
The 38-year-old shared the story on social media on Thursday, posting photos of his old Liverpool property after selling the home and describing the chaos that unfolded when the former winger moved in.
Babel, who played 146 times for Liverpool between 2007 and 2011, said he had only just 'cleaned up all the banking drama and wild tenant stories' surrounding his first home in England and even revealed that the tenant, identified as his old Netherlands team-mate Royston Drenthe, also 'forgot to pay rent'.
'This house holds so many memories,' Babel wrote on X. '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!'
Ryan Babel has named the former Everton star who once transformed his home into a nightclub while renting it
Royston Drenthe, now 38, retired from professional football in 2023 and has since worked as a coach and media pundit in the Netherlands
Drenthe, now 38, retired from professional football in 2023 and has since worked as a coach and media pundit in the Netherlands. He began his career at Feyenoord before joining Real Madrid in 2007, where he played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
Last year, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole included him in their 'Unfulfilled XI' — a team of players they believed never reached their full potential.
He later joined Everton on loan during the 2011–12 season, scoring four goals in 27 appearances before leaving the club after a fallout with then-manager David Moyes.
He later admitted that his fiery relationship with Moyes had defined his short time at Goodison Park.
'I think back now with a completely different mindset,' Drenthe told the football podcast SDS. 'Back then I was 25, perhaps I wasn't always right. But I can now understand and appreciate the job he was doing.'
After leaving Merseyside, Drenthe played for clubs in Russia, Turkey and the UAE before finishing his career in the Dutch lower leagues. He has since appeared on podcasts and Dutch television, joking about being 'an all-rounder' when asked about his playing position.
Babel meanwhile, who joined Liverpool from Ajax in 2007 for £11.5million, further reflected that he was proud to have owned the house despite the drama.
'It's in a prime spot, filled with memories, laughter, and a bit of chaos,' he added. '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.
Babel, who joined Liverpool from Ajax in 2007 for £11.5million, reflected that he was proud to have owned the house despite the drama
The former Netherlands international said he hopes the property brings the next owners 'just as much joy (and maybe fewer surprises) as it did me'
Drente admitted that his fiery relationship with David Moyes defined his short time at Goodison Park
'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.'
Babel has stayed active off the pitch since retiring from playing in 2023. The Dutchman has pursued ventures in music and property while maintaining close ties to Liverpool, where he scored 22 goals during his four years at Anfield.
