AFCON 2025
Celestine Babayaro is a former Super Eagles player who played left-back or left midfielder for the national team for over 10 years. Babayaro was part of the historic Atlanta 1996 football team that won Africa’s first-ever football gold medal at the Olympics.
Babayaro didn’t just etch his name in history with the national team but also with Chelsea football club. He played for the Blues for eight years and was instrumental in the club’s first-ever European club in 1998 and another European trophy the following year. Celestine Babayaro is the first Nigerian player to play for Chelsea before the likes of John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses.
The Kaduna-born defender/midfielder had a decent career for club and country, even though the latter end of his career didn’t pan out exactly how he would have wanted due to a lack of discipline on the part of the Olympic gold medalist.
Babayaro is recognised for his nimble feet, electrifying pace down the left flank, and tireless runs into dangerous areas.
This post examines Celestine Babayaro’s background, career, achievements, net worth, and other information about the former defender. It will also provide information about what Babayaro is currently up to in 2025 or in recent years.
Celestine Babayaro Background
Born Celestine Hycieth Babayaro, the ex-Super Eagles defender was born on 29 August 1978 in Kaduna, Nigeria. Babayaro grew up with his brother Emmanuael Babayaro, who was also part of the Atlanta 1996 Olympics gold medal-winning team. Unlike his brother, Emmanuel had limited game time as he contended with the likes of Dosu Joseph and Peter Rufai.
)
How old is Celestine Babayaro?
Celestine Babayaro is 46 years old as of 2025. How tall is Babayaro? The defender is of average height and he stands at the height of 5 ft 9 inches.
Career
Celestine Babayaro started his football career at Plateau United. He played for the youth team of the former NPFL champions before moving to Europe. Babayaro joined Anderlecht in the Belgian Jupiler League, where he impressed for the club and started attracting suitors from Europe. He set a rather unwanted record as he became the youngest player to start and receive a red card in the UEFA Champions League. Babayaro received a red card against Steaua București in a 1–1 draw. He was 16 years and 86 days old.
Babayaro at Chelsea
Celestine Babayaro joined Chelsea in the summer of 1997 for a transfer fee of £2.25 million, a club record fee for a teenager at the time. He was scouted by Lewis Durkin, who had been following his progress in the Belgian League since he moved to the club from Nigerian side Plateau United.
Babayaro made his Chelsea debut against ŠK Slovan Bratislava in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. Unfortunately, the defender sustained an injury in the 6-1 win over Tottenham in December 1997, which kept him out of action for the rest of the season.
The pacy defender missed Chelsea’s 1998 Football League Cup and the 1998 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup victories, but he went on to win the 1998 UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup, and the Charity Shield in 2000. Celestine Babayaro played an important role as Chelsea reached the 1999/2000 UEFA Champions League run, as Chelsea lost in the quarter-finals to Barcelona. Chelsea fans remember Celestine Babayaro for his acrobatic celebrations with backflips
Babayaro’s stint at Chelsea came to a gradual end with the steady rise of Wayne Bridge under new manager, Wayne Bridge, which prompted his move away from the club.
Newcastle
Babayaro joined Newcastle for an undisclosed fee in January 2005. Celestine Babyaro established himself as the first-choice left-back at club.
However, despite a handful of decent performances, Babayaro’s stint at the club ended on a disappointing note. Celestine Babayaro was suspended for three matches for slapping former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt in the face in September 2006. The referee missed the incident, but footage showed that Babayaro punched the Dutch forward. Babayaro admitted to the allegations and apologised to Kuyt afterwards.
On 10 February 2007, Celestine Babayaro informed his then-manager, Glenn Roeder, about the death of his junior brother Emmanuel 12 hours before the 2-1 win over Liverpool. Babayaro insisted on playing the match and had a brilliant outing in the victory.
Unfortunately, Babayaro’s incessant injuries led to the mutual termination of his contract at Newcastle. They agreed on compensation, and his contract was terminated on 10 December 2007.
Former Newcastle chairman, Freddy Shepherd, took a swipe at Celestine Babayaro as he labelled him a “disgrace” for not “Pulling his weight” during an interview with BBC television about a month after Babayaro’s departure.
LA Galaxy
Celestine Babayaro reunited with his former manager, Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit, at LA Galaxy on 21 January 2008 and signed a three-year contract. However, he never played an official game for the club. Babayaro fell on the bad side of the manager and club chairman, Alexi Lalas, for poor behavior and attitude on and off the pitch.
The defender was intoxicated by David Beckham’s widely reported $250 million contract, but he was surprised that he had to fly in economy class and share hotel rooms on road trips. His poor behavior affected his performance on the pitch during training and pre-season matches.
Babayaro was released from the club after a poor performance against FC Seoul in a pre-season friendly match. He received a yellow card and conceded a penalty in the process. Lalas confirmed Babayaro’s release from the club in a statement, “After a period of evaluation, it was decided that it would be in the best interest of the club and the player to part ways. It is unfortunate that it did not work out, but Ruud and our technical staff are hard at work putting together this team, and difficult decisions have to be made”.
Portsmouth
Veteran Premier League manager, Harry Redknapp invited Celestine Babayaro to train with Portsmouth ahead of the 2008–09 season to sign for the defending champions of the FA Cup. However, Portsmouth did not offer him a contract. Celestine Babayaro officially retired from football on 8 July 2010.
Super Eagles and Atlanta 1996
Celestine Babayaro played for the Golden Eaglets and won the 1993 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Japan. He made his Super Eagles debut in the Afro-Asian Championship against Uzbekistan in 1995. A year later, he represented the country at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics as Nigeria became the first African team to win a football gold medal at the Olympics. Babayaro scored in the win against Mexico and in the final against Mexico. Babayaro was named in the tournament’s all-star team.
He also represented Nigeria at the 1998 France World Cup, as captain at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and at the 2002 Korea/Japan FIFA World Cup.
His time with the Super Eagles came to an end on a disgraceful note after the late Christian Chukwu expelled him, Yakubu, Aiyegbeni, and Victor Agali for reportedly attending a party while in camp during the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
Career Achievements
Anderlecht
- Belgian First Division: 1994–95
- Belgian Super Cup: 1995
Chelsea
- UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup: 1997–98
- UEFA Super Cup: 1998
- FA Cup: 1999–2000
- FA Charity Shield: 2000
Nigeria U17
- FIFA U-17 World Championship: 1993
Atlanta 1996 Nigeria U23
- Olympic Gold Medal: 1996
Super Eagles
- African Cup of Nations third place: 2004
Individual
- Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 1994–95, 1995–96[
- Ebony Shoe Award: 1996
Celestine Babayaro net worth
Babayaro’s last known net worth is $3 million. Unfortunately, Celestine Babayaro went bankrupt in 2011 and fled from creditors who charged him to court for refusing to pay the huge amount of loans he had taken. The London Gazette listed Celestine Babayaro as bankrupt in an announcement that year.
Babayaro’s House
Celestine Babayaro once owned a property worth £475,000 at Laleham Road in Shepperton, Middlesex but due to his bankruptcy issue, he could not pay for the mainataince of the house after he was declared bankrupt.
Who is Celestine Babayaro’s wife?
The former Super Eagles defender is probably single as of 2025, and there is no public information on whether he is dating or seeing someone.
Babayaro’s son
Celestine Babayaro’s son, Ryan Hyacinth, was born in 2006 and is also a football player. Ryan Hyacinth is currently 18 years old. Babayaro also has a young daughter.
Ryan played in the Newcastle United academy and was labelled as ‘the new Messi’, once impressing Spanish manager Rafa Benitez, who invited him to train with the youth team. The invitation came after he emerged as the best player in a tournament as he helped his school, Cambois Primary School, Northumberland, emerge winners in the tournament that involved primary schools in the city.
Social Media
Ceslestine Babayaro is on X with over 500 followers on his page. He is also on Instagram, where she shares pictures and other content with his followers. He has over 900 followers.
What does Celestine Babayaro do now?
The former Chelsea, Newcastle United, Anderlecht, and Super Eagles defender is now an FA Licensed Intermediary.
