Liverpool have completed the signing of Ajax's Ryan Babel in an £11.5m deal. The 20-year-old Dutch striker has agreed a five-year contract as Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez continues a major overhaul of his squad.
"I listened to them and I got a great feeling about the club," said Babel. "I have made my choice with my heart and the coach has big plans for me."
Yossi Benayoun, a reported £5m signing from West Ham, was also unveiled by Liverpool on Friday.
Babel admitted it was a tough decision to leave Ajax, where he made his debut aged 17 in 2004 and scored five goals in 27 Eredivisie matches last season.
He said: "I have met Rafael Benitez and my conversation with him was the moment I knew the deal would get done. "He is like the ideal father-in-law. He has a lot of football know-how and he told me that I would be challenging with six other players for four positions. I have a good feeling about things.
"I met Dirk Kuyt at training, who I knew from the national team. At that moment he did not feel like a rival but I suppose that is what will happen. "It was very important how the coach spoke to me, how I would fit in his team. After that conversation I knew it was the right decision."
Babel was a member of the Dutch team that won the European Under-21 Championship in June and he has been capped 14 times by the full Dutch team.
Liverpool manager Benitez has also signed forwards Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin this summer.
"I listened to them and I got a great feeling about the club," said Babel. "I have made my choice with my heart and the coach has big plans for me."
Yossi Benayoun, a reported £5m signing from West Ham, was also unveiled by Liverpool on Friday.
Babel admitted it was a tough decision to leave Ajax, where he made his debut aged 17 in 2004 and scored five goals in 27 Eredivisie matches last season.
He said: "I have met Rafael Benitez and my conversation with him was the moment I knew the deal would get done. "He is like the ideal father-in-law. He has a lot of football know-how and he told me that I would be challenging with six other players for four positions. I have a good feeling about things.
"I met Dirk Kuyt at training, who I knew from the national team. At that moment he did not feel like a rival but I suppose that is what will happen. "It was very important how the coach spoke to me, how I would fit in his team. After that conversation I knew it was the right decision."
Babel was a member of the Dutch team that won the European Under-21 Championship in June and he has been capped 14 times by the full Dutch team.
Liverpool manager Benitez has also signed forwards Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin this summer.
No comments:
Post a Comment