Abu Dhabi: Former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has flown down to the UAE to complete his transfer with Al Ain.
The Dutch winger, who plays for Turkey’s Kasimpasa, was set to will seal the deal after his medical test on Wednesday.
Babel will be replacing Al Ain’s Slovakian medio Miroslav Stoch and will be adding support to Ghanaian star Asamoah Gyan and Lee Myung upfront.
All Al Ain need now is to look for one more foreign recruit to fill in the void left by French striker Jires Kembo Ekoko.
“I am very excited to start the season with the team, especially since negotiations on a transfer to Al Ain were conducted in an excellent manner.
“I really wanted to represent Al Ain and I hope to repay the confidence shown in me by the coaching staff, led by Zlatko Dalic, in order to delight fans of the team,” said Babel on the Al Ain website, adding he was keen on seeing Al Ain continue their dominance.
“I want to regain the AFC Champions League and President’s Cup and also retain the Arabian Gulf League title.
Al Ain are a team full of stars and armed with a history full of achievements and championships,” said Babel, who began his professional career with Ajax in 2004. He made 146 appearances for Liverpool before spending over three years with Merseyside club and then moved to Germany’s Hoffenheim. He was back at Ajax for the 2012 season and then again switched loyalties to Kasimpasa.
Though Babel failed to make a great impact in Istanbul, scoring just nine goals in 29 appearances, Al Ain team manager Nasser Al Junaibi felt the Dutchman could be an asset to the team.
“Babel was one of the most prominent names put forward by Zlatko Dalic to strengthen the team for the new season. He has a wonderful personality, high technical potential and has considerable experience in football with clubs such as Liverpool, Ajax and Hoffenheim.”
Meanwhile, Dubai’s Al Shabab has confirmed the signing of Brazilian striker Jo on a three-year deal from Atletico Mineiro, according to the Al Mamza club’s official twitter feed. The former Manchester City and Everton player, who also featured in the 2014 Fifa World Cup, will replace outgoing compatriot Edgar Bruno.
Jo began his career at Corinthians in Sao Paulo and later moved to Russia’s CSKA Moscow in 2005. Three years later, he later made a bumper move to Manchester City for a fee of £18 million (Dh103 million).
As per German media reports, Abu Dhabi’s Al Jazira are trying to lure Hertha Berlin’s Japanese recruit Hajime Hosogai. The website www.borlife.de said that Hertha Berlin have received an offer from Al Jazira for their Japanese defensive midfielder Hajime Hosogai.
