Demba Ba

Demba Ba signed from Newcastle to Chelsea on the 4th of January, for an undisclosed fee. Well, they say it is an undisclosed fee, but Ba had a release-clause in his Newcastle United contract of £7million, but we can assume that there were some agent fee's involved too.

Demba Ba started his professional career at the French club Rouen, who were currently in the second division of French football. The Senegalese striker scored 22 goals in 26 appearances, despite only being 20 years old.
The following season, Ba played in Belgium for R.E. Mouscron. Despite Ba scoring in his first three appearances, Ba suffered injuries to his tibia and fibula, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
In 2007, Ba joined German team 1899 Hoffenheim, who were in the second division of German football at the time. Ba played a massive part of Hoffenheim's promotion to the Bundesliga, and scored a total of 40 goals in his 4 seasons at the club.

Ba's career here entered a new chapter, as the striker made his move to England. After a failed medical at Stoke City due to his recurring knee problems, West Ham signed him in the 2011 January transfer window. Ba impressed in the second half of the 2010/11 season, scoring 7 goals in 13 appearances, making him West Ham's top scorer for the season. West Ham finished the season in 18th place, meaning they were relegated to the Championship. After impressing in the season, a lot of speculation took place, to see which Premier League side Ba would join. Ba opted for Newcastle United, and scored 16 goals in his first season, and created a deadly attacking force with fellow countryman Pappis Cisse.

Before signing for Chelsea in January of 2013, Ba scored an impressive 13 goals for Newcastle. A day after signing for Chelsea, Ba was thrown straight in the deep end and started an away game to Southampton in the FA Cup, scoring a brace as we went on to win 5-1.

In my opinion, Ba is a brilliant signing for us. We sold Daniel Sturridge for £12million, and signed Ba for 7, meaning we also got a £5million profit. Ba adds the power into our attacking force. He is a born poacher, and plays a very direct style of play. Ba was brought in to score goals, especially with Fernando Torres slacking. Ba has already got off to a great start in Chelsea colors, and I can see him ending the season with 15 goals to his name in blue.