GIANNI Zuiverloon admits he consulted his good friend - Liverpool winger Ryan Babel - before making his £3.2million move to Albion from Heerenveen this week.

The new Baggies right-back lined up against the former Ajax ace in numerous Eredivisie clashes before his £11.5million switch to Anfield last summer.

And Zuiverloon is delighted he has been able to follow in his footsteps just 12 months later so he has the chance to fulfil his pledge to tackle Babel in the Barclays Premier League.

"I spoke to my good friend Ryan Babel a lot and he said this was a big step for me and I will be alright," said Albion's new signing.

"I always played against Ryan in the Dutch league and I always said to him I was going to play against him in the Premier League.

"Now it's finally there and it's a big chance for me.

"I hope I can adapt to the Premier League as well as Ryan has.

"I want to prove myself and get better like he did as the season went on."

The 21-year-old buddies also played together in Holland's 2007 European Under-21 Championship-winning side.

And that tournament on home soil also gave Zuiverloon one of his best footballing memories to date when he slotted home the winning penalty past England's Scott Carson with the 32nd spot-kick in a marathon semi-final shoot-out.

"It was a beautiful moment scoring the winning penalty against England in that tournament," Zuiverloon added.

"The crowd was incredible."

PIC: DOUBLE DUTCH...Babel and Zuiverloon celebrate winning the 2007 European Under-21 Championships

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