Former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel has launched a fashion agency and music production career since retiring from football.
Ryan Babel at Paris Fashion Week
Ryan Babel now works in the fashion and music industries (Image: Getty Images)
Since hanging up his boots in 2024, Ryan Babel has embarked on some striking new ventures. The former Liverpool winger has channelled his creative energies into the worlds of both fashion and music. A graduate of Ajax's renowned academy, Babel joined Rafa Benitez's Liverpool for £11.5million in 2007. That was a substantial outlay for the then 20-year-old and he racked up 146 appearances and netted 22 goals during his three-and-a-half years at Anfield.
Following his departure from the Reds, Babel had spells in Germany, Spain, Turkey, England and the United Arab Emirates, before returning to the Netherlands and eventually calling time on his playing days at the age of 37 in 2024. Given such a diverse career, a move into coaching would have seemed a natural fit; yet the ex-Liverpool star has opted for a far more unconventional path into retirement.
"Throughout my career, I've been involved in various ventures. For a long time, I've been part of the music business," Babel told our sister title, the Liverpool ECHO. "I have artists mostly in Los Angeles, one in Amsterdam, and a producer in the UK.
"Music has always been a part of me, I enjoy it. While it may not always be a great business decision in terms of return on investment, it started as a hobby and grew into a business that I loved managing during my spare time.
"Outside of music, I also run an agency in Paris that operates in the fashion industry. We focus primarily on athletes interested in fashion, helping them build relationships with brands, organise fashion weeks, and handle rebranding or social media strategies.
"These are just some of the ventures I'm involved in. Right now, I'm enjoying exploring things I wasn't able to during my playing career.
"As for coaching? Maybe in the future, but mentally I'm not there yet. Since retiring, I've occasionally run training sessions for under-16 or under-14 players.
"It feels nice to help and guide them as they improve. That passion is still there, but I'll never say never."
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Ryan Babel of Liverpool
Ryan Babel scored 22 goals for Liverpool
Ryan Babel at Paris Fashion Week
Ryan Babel attended Paris Fashion Week earlier this year (Image: Getty Images)
Babel's stint at Liverpool drew to a close when he was offloaded to Hoffenheim in January 2011 - a transfer window best remembered for the club's stunning choice to sell Fernando Torres to Chelsea, while bringing in Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez as replacements on deadline day.
Despite departing Anfield without lifting a trophy, Babel was part of the squad that claimed the Premier League runners-up spot in 2009.
On the international stage, the winger also earned his place in the Netherlands side that went all the way to the 2010 World Cup final.
Babel subsequently returned to Ajax and enjoyed stints with Kasimpasa, UAE side Al-Ain and Deportivo La Coruna before recapturing his best form at Besiktas.
This earned him a short-lived Premier League comeback with Fulham in 2019, before he moved on to Galatasaray and a third spell at Ajax.
He brought the curtain down on his playing career in the Turkish second division with Eyupspor in 2023, formally announcing his retirement over a year afterwards. In 2024, he also appeared on Love Undercover - a celebrating dating show - alongside the likes of Jamie O'Hara and Lloyd Jones.
Yet few could have anticipated that Babel would channel his energies into carving out a presence in both the music and fashion worlds.