In 1997, Babel attended a youth selection day with AFC Ajax. He made it through the first selection round, but failed to progress any further.[1] However, the next year Ajax did take him on and he played the 1998–99 season for their D1 team.[1] After having also passed through the C1, B1 and A1 teams, Babel signed his first professional contract in January 2004.[1]

On February 1, 2004, just two months after his 17th birthday, Ajax coach Ronald Koeman gave Babel his first team debut in Ajax's 4-0 home win over ADO Den Haag in the Eredivisie.[2] Ajax went on to win the Dutch league title, but Babel didn't feature again that season. Nine months later, on 20 November 2004 Babel scored his first senior goal against De Graafschap in a 5-0 victory.[3]


Ryan Babel at a post-game press event for Ajax.In July 2005, Babel signed a new contract with Ajax. He started the new season by scoring the winning goal in Ajax's 2-1 defeat of PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Super Cup. Babel scored in both legs of the Champions League third qualifying round against Brøndby as Ajax made it to the group stage. 2005–06 was a tougher season for Babel in general though as he managed only 2 league goals. He did however continue to feature for the national team, and scored his second goal against Italy in November. At the end of the season, Babel came on as a second-half substitute in Ajax's 2-1 victory over PSV in the Dutch Cup final.

Babel marked the start of 2006–07 with another Dutch Super Cup winners medal, as Ajax defeated PSV 3-1. Babel was linked with Arsenal and Newcastle United during the January transfer window of the 2006-07 season but no move materialised.[4][5] Amidst the transfer speculation, Babel agreed to a new three-year deal with Ajax on February 2, 2007.[2][6] In May, Babel got another Dutch Cup winners medal as Ajax successfully defended the title. The match against AZ went to a penalty shoot-out, but Babel was substituted off after 120 minutes.[7]


[edit] Liverpool

Ryan BabelOn July 10, 2007, it was reported that Liverpool F.C. had made a £13.5 million offer to the Amsterdam club.[8] On July 12, it was reported that Liverpool and Ajax agreed a fee in the region of £11.5 million, and later Liverpool confirmed that Babel would sign a five year contract on 13 July.[9] He was unveiled on July 13 with Yossi Benayoun. Babel was handed the number 19 shirt. He made his debut on July 17 against Werder Bremen in a friendly. He was due to play in the first round of the Barclays Asia Trophy 2007 but for a delay in the granting of international clearance. This was sorted out in time for the final against Portsmouth.[10]

He made his Premiership debut in the 2007/08 Premiership curtain raiser against Aston Villa away after coming on off the bench, impressing by going close twice and showing great vision and touch. A week later and he made his Anfield debut, coming off the bench against Chelsea and producing a cross and a shot that went wide. Babel plays in the right or left midfielder position, or as a centre foward for Liverpool. On September 1, Babel scored his first goal for Liverpool against Derby County. He dribbled past two defenders, before sending Stephen Bywater, Derby's goalkeeper, to the wrong corner and scored. Babel scored his first two goals for Liverpool in the Champions League on November 6, 2007 against Beşiktaş J.K. after coming on as a substitute. He nearly got a third, to complete a hat-trick, off a header from Harry Kewell but was denied by the crossbar. Liverpool and Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish has said that Babel has the ability to terrorise defenders in the premiership with his pace and trickery with the ball.

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You've heard all the speculation, digested the paper talk and analysed the stats, but just how well do you know our latest signing?
Liverpoolfc.tv reveals 10 things you never knew about Fernando Torres:

1. The 23-year-old spent his early years in football as a keeper: "I played in goal until one day I got a couple of teeth knocked out by the ball," he explains. "I decided then that my career between the sticks was finished. Great save, though!"

2. Torres was snapped up by Atletico Madrid at the age of 11 after scoring a whopping 55 goals in his first season for amateur side Rayo 13.

3. It was just three years before the transfer rumours started. Aged only 14, the striker was linked to a host of European clubs, with Arsenal reportedly having a bid rejected.

4. In 1998 Torres was voted the best under-14 player in Europe following some dazzling displays in the Nike Cup. He'd later win player of the tournament at the 2001 European Under-16 Championships and 2002 European Under-19 Championships.

5. He was just 19 when he was named Atletico captain – the youngest skipper in the club's history.

6. It wasn't long before international recognition came. The striker won his first cap against Portugal in September 2003. Current Spain boss Luis Aragones describes him as a player who "never scores two goals the same".

7. Torres is no stranger to the hairdresser's. One fansite has counted 11 different hairdos since his first-team debut in 2001, including a mullet and a Mohican.

8. Talking of his appearance, the Spanish international is known in his homeland as El Nino, or The Kid, because of his baby-face.

9. Like would-be teammates Daniel Agger and John Arne Riise, Torres also has a penchant for tattoos. The striker has at least three to date, including one of his Atletico, Spain and now Liverpool shirt number, nine, on his right arm.

10. In May 2007 the forward revealed the words You'll Never Walk Alone written behind his captain's armband during a game against Real Sociedad. Two months later he signed for Liverpool, leaving the Vicente Calderon with a record of 82 goals in 214 league appearances.