Ryan Babel pivots to fashion and music after Liverpool exit

Ryan Babel, the former Liverpool winger who hung up his boots in 2024 at the age of thirty‑seven, has redirected his creative drive into the worlds of fashion and music. The Dutch international says his post‑playing life feels like a natural extension of his on‑field flair.

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In 2007 Rafa Benitez’s side paid £11.5 million for the twenty‑year‑old Ajax graduate, a substantial fee at the time. Babel went on to make 146 appearances and score 22 goals over three‑and‑a‑half seasons on Merseyside before being offloaded to Hoffenheim in January 2011.

Music and fashion ventures

Since retiring, Babel has built a music portfolio that includes artists in Los Angeles and Amsterdam and a producer based in the United Kingdom. “Music has always been a part of me… it started as a hobby and grew into a business I love managing,” he told the Liverpool ECHO.

He also runs a Paris‑based agency that links athletes with fashion brands, organises fashion weeks and handles re‑branding and social‑media strategy. “Outside of music, I also run an agency in Paris that operates in the fashion industry,” Babel explained.

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Fans can Get a glimpse of his new projects through his social channels, where he showcases both his musical releases and fashion collaborations.

Babel occasionally runs training sessions for under‑16 and under‑14 players, keeping a foot in coaching. “Maybe in the future, but mentally I’m not there yet,” he added, hinting at a possible future on the touchline.

His playing career spanned Germany, Spain, Turkey, England, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands, with spells at clubs such as Hoffenheim, Kasimpasa, Al‑Ain, Deportivo La Coruna, Besiktas, Fulham, Galatasaray, Ajax and Eyupspor.

During his time at Liverpool, the team finished Premier League runners‑up in 2009, and Babel was part of the Netherlands squad that reached the World Cup final in 2010.