Former Dutch international footballer Ryan Babel has revealed he sold his Liverpool mansion after 18 years, citing persistent issues with tenants, including a “tenant from hell” experience with former teammate Royston Drenthe, who allegedly installed a disco without permission.
Babel, 38, shared the news on social media, detailing the “banking drama and absurd tenant stories” associated with the property. He expressed relief at finally transferring the home to a new owner.
The former Liverpool forward specifically called out Drenthe, another promising player from the 2007 U-21 European Championship-winning team, for giving “new meaning to the expression ‘tenant from hell’.”
Babel accused Drenthe of forgetting “to pay rent during his time at Everton” and of unauthorized construction, stating Drenthe “even decided to build a disco inside my house without permission. This is incredible!”
Records indicate Drenthe was on loan at Everton during the 2011-2012 season, aligning with the period of the alleged tenancy.
Babel, who began his career at Ajax, moved to Liverpool in 2007. Despite initial promise, he never fully established himself in England but maintained ownership of the house, renting it out after he left the club.
Drenthe, a former Real Madrid player, also struggled to fully capitalize on his talent after a successful youth career alongside Babel.
Babel described the house as his “first home” after moving out of his parents’ residence, filled with “emotion, mistakes and lessons.”
He ultimately decided to sell the property due to a “variable interest rate mortgage” he took out when he “had no idea of real estate,” calling it “a lesson learned the hard way!” Babel hopes the new owner finds “as much joy (and maybe fewer surprises)” as he did.