Ryan Babel will be heading to the Bundesliga after all.
Just hours after manager Kenny Dalglish declared that the young Dutch forward be staying at the club for the immediate future, Liverpool released a statement on LFC.tv stating that Babel has in fact agreed to leave the club for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim had completed a £5.8 million deal for Babel last week — with the player even going to Germany for his medical examinations — but Babel held out hope for a return to Ajax as part of a potential Luis Suarez deal.
When that transaction appeared impossible, Babel seemed set to turn down Hoffenheim and remain at Anfield until the summer, but now, the 24-year-old will make the move to Germany.
Babel joined Liverpool in 2007 for £12 million. Often a disappointment, he scored just 12 goals in 91 appearances with the club.
Babel’s move to the Bundesliga has mixed implications as far as the Suarez transfer is concerned. While Liverpool will have £5.8 million to finance such a move and the club is willing to reduce depth in anticipation of new signings, Babel will also not be a playing card in the negotiations with Ajax.
