 Ba withBeşiktaş in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Demba Ba[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-05-25)25 May 1985 (age 39)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Sèvres, France | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2000 | Port Autonome | ||
| 2000–2001 | Frileuse | ||
| 2001–2004 | Montrouge | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2006 | Rouen | 26 | (22) |
| 2006–2007 | Mouscron | 12 | (8) |
| 2007–2011 | TSG Hoffenheim | 97 | (37) |
| 2011 | West Ham United | 12 | (7) |
| 2011–2013 | Newcastle United | 54 | (29) |
| 2013–2014 | Chelsea | 33 | (7) |
| 2014–2015 | Beşiktaş | 29 | (18) |
| 2015–2018 | Shanghai Shenhua | 29 | (20) |
| 2017 | →Beşiktaş (loan) | 2 | (1) |
| 2018 | Göztepe | 13 | (7) |
| 2018–2019 | Shanghai Shenhua | 17 | (5) |
| 2019–2021 | İstanbul Başakşehir | 59 | (20) |
| 2021 | Lugano | 3 | (0) |
| Total | 386 | (181) | |
| International career | |||
| 2007–2015 | Senegal | 22 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Demba Ba (born 25 May 1985) is a French-Senegalese former professionalfootballer who played as astriker. He serves as the chairman ofNational Independent Soccer Association sideAlbion San Diego.
He made his first-team debut with French teamRouen in 2005 before moving toMouscron and thenTSG Hoffenheim in Germany in 2007. In 2011, he moved toPremier League sideWest Ham United. He played only 12 games for West Ham and despite being their league top goal scorer in the 2010–11 season, they were relegated to theChampionship and Ba moved toNewcastle United. In January 2013, he completed a move toChelsea for an undisclosed fee, before joiningBeşiktaş for €6 million 18 months later. After one season in Turkey, he moved toShanghai Shenhua of theChinese Super League.
Born and raised in France, Ba was a full international forSenegal from 2007 to 2015 and represented the country at the2012 Africa Cup of Nations. On 13 September 2021, he announced his retirement from football.
Ba was born inSèvres, Hauts-de-Seine[4] and is the sixth child of seven. He grew up inSaint-Valery-en-Caux, Seine-Maritime. He joined the youth section of ES Mont-Gaillard, located inLe Havre, in 1992, before playing for Port Autonome between 1999 and 2000, and then for Frileuse between 2000 and 2001.[5]
In 2001, Ba returned toChâtillon and played for Montrouge.[5] He played there until 2004, at which point he decided to concentrate on his football.[5] Later that year, after unsuccessful trials atLyon andAuxerre,[5] Ba moved to the United Kingdom to seek a professional contract. He was recommended toWatford managerRay Lewington through his friendGauthier Diafutua, then a Watford player, but released shortly after Lewington's dismissal. Ba then spent a week on trial atBarnsley,[5] and returned to France after two more unsuccessful trials at Football League sidesSwansea City andGillingham.[6]
Ba signed with manager Alain Michel because they were both moving to French clubRouen on a one-year contract, and Ba enjoyed a highly successful season with the club.[citation needed]
Belgian clubMouscron beat off competition from numerous other clubs to win Ba's signature in 2006. Scoring in each of his first three games, he then picked up fractures in his tibia and fibula, and was out of action between August 2006 and April 2007. Following his eight-month recovery period he scored seven goals in nine games, and picked up his first international cap.[citation needed]
On 29 August 2007, Ba moved to2. Bundesliga sideTSG Hoffenheim for €3 million. Ba was an integral part of Hoffenheim'spromotion to theBundesliga and their successful first season in the Bundesliga, where they finished seventh after leading during theChristmas break. In that season he scored 14 goals, only missing one game all season. These goals included a hat-trick in a 3–3 game againstStuttgart on 24 February 2009. In all competitions Ba scored 40 goals in 103 appearances for TSG Hoffenheim.[7]In July 2009, he was due to move toVfB Stuttgart, but the move fell through after he failed a medical.[8] In December of that year Ba extended his contract at Hoffenheim to 2013.[9]
Ba left Hoffenheim for disputed reasons in January 2011. Claiming the club had gone back on an agreed transfer to aPremier League club, believed to beWest Ham United, he refused to travel to Hoffenheim's winter training camp. In response, Hoffenheim's general manager said his contract would be cancelled, he would face legal action, and he would be fined and prevented from moving to another club for six months.[10][11] The club also later claimed he travelled to England without permission in order to force a move, which they reluctantly agreed needs to happen due to Ba's actions.[12] The club later agreed to a transfer toStoke City for a reported fee of £7.1 million, but it fell through after Ba had agreed personal terms but failed his medical for undisclosed reasons.[13][14] Expressing disappointment, Stoke City managerTony Pulis said "Obviously they found something which could cause problems later".[15]
After leaving Hoffenheim, the club's general manager Ernst Tanner stated the club stand by their decision selling Ba.[16]
After the collapsed Stoke deal, Ba was sold toWest Ham United for an undisclosed fee based on appearances. He signed a three-year contract on 28 January, on a pay as you play basis due to knee problems found in the Stoke medical.[17][18][19][20] Ba's Premier League debut came on 6 February 2011, as a 75th-minute substitute forRobbie Keane during a 1–0 home defeat byBirmingham City.[21] His first goals followed six days later during his full debut, scoring twice in a 3–3 draw againstWest Bromwich Albion.[22] Despite finishing as their top scorer for the season with seven from twelve games including 2 in the last game, Ba's stay with West Ham proved to be short.[23] Following their relegation to theChampionship after a 3–2 loss away toWigan Athletic he invoked a release clause in his contract allowing him to leave for free. He turned down a £50,000-a-week salary plus a bonus payment of £500,000 in order to stay in the Premier League with another club, triggering interest from bothEverton andNewcastle United.[17][24]
On 17 June 2011, Ba signed forNewcastle United on a three-year deal,[25] making his club debut on 13 August 2011 in the 0–0 draw againstArsenal.[26] His first goals for the club came on 24 September 2011 with ahat-trick againstBlackburn Rovers in a 3–1 home win.[27] A second hat-trick came in a 3–1 away win at Stoke City, taking his league total to 8 and maintaining the club's 11-game unbeaten league start, taking them to 3rd in the league.[28][29] Ba's goalscoring form continued despite Newcastle entering a downward spell, and saw him picked in ESPN.com's Premier League Best XI for the first half of the season, and namedPremier League Player of the Month for December 2011.[30][31][32]
By the time Ba left to play in the January2012 Africa Cup of Nations his league tally had reached 15, making him second top scorer in the league behind Arsenal'sRobin van Persie. He left for the tournament on a high note, scoring the first in a 3–0 home win overManchester United on 4 January 2012, the team's first victory against the league champions in over a decade.[33] While at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, Ba's Senegal teammatePapiss Cissé also signed for Newcastle.[34] Ba and Cissé returned earlier than expected after Senegal finished bottom of their group, with Ba having missed three Premier League games and twoFA Cup games, the second of which saw Newcastle knocked out of the cup.[35] He returned to action against Aston Villa on their visit to St James' Park on 5 February 2012, his return proved to be a goal scoring one as he netted the opener in the game which Newcastle won 2–1.[36] This would prove to be Ba's last goal of the season, as he moved to the left of a three pronged attack with Papiss Cissé leading the line, and grabbing 12 goals in the second half of the season. Despite this late season slump, Ba was voted as the best signing of the 2011–12 season by Premier League managers in March 2012.[37] He finished the season as Newcastle's leading goal scorer, with 16 goals.[38]
Ba got his season off to a strong start scoring in a 1–0 win againstMonaco, in Landsberg am Lech, Germany on 16 July 2012. He also scored in a 2–1 win againstBraga which helped Newcastle win theGuadiana Trophy. In Newcastle's first league game against Tottenham, Ba opened the scoring with a fantastic volleyed effort in a 2–1 win.[39] On 17 September 2012, he scored Newcastle's 1000th goal of thePremier League era, after scoring both goals in a 2–2 draw againstEverton atGoodison Park.[40] On 29 September, he scored for the third game in a row as he scored twice in a 2–2 draw away toReading, the first a volley, the second however proved controversial as the ball struck his arm before going in.[41]
It was known that Ba had a release clause in his contract valued at £7 million causing speculation of him making a transfer toChelsea.[42] This speculation was confirmed by Newcastle managerAlan Pardew on 2 January 2013 who said that the transfer was "done" and Ba would "go to Chelsea with our blessing."[43]
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On 4 January 2013, Ba joined Chelsea for an undisclosed fee. Ba signed a three-and-a-half-year contract. He received the vacant number 29 shirt.[44]Ba made his debut againstSouthampton in the third round of theFA Cup on 5 January. He marked his first appearance for the club by scoring two goals in a 5–1 victory for Chelsea.[45] He scored on his home league debut on 16 January in a 2–2 draw, also against Southampton.[46]
On 2 February 2013, Ba first played his former team Newcastle in a Premier League match at St. James' Park. In the 32nd minute of the match Ba had a chance to open the scoring but his initial attempt on goal was saved by Newcastle keeperTim Krul. Ba managed to head the rebounded ball and in doing so collided with Coloccini. The collision resulted in a broken nose and Ba was substituted in the 43rd minute. Newcastle went on to win the game 3–2.[47] After a run of seven games without scoring, Ba scored in a 1–0 win against West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge on 2 March.[48] On 1 April, Ba scored a goal from a longJuan Mata cross in the FA Cup quarter-final replay againstManchester United, giving Chelsea a 1–0 victory and a spot atWembley againstManchester City in the semi-finals of the competition.[49] He was cup-tied for Chelsea's victorious2012–13 UEFA Europa League campaign.[50]
For the2013–14 season, Ba's squad number was switched from 29 to 19, his squad number while atNewcastle. In the summer transfer window, Ba was linked with transfers to his former clubs Newcastle United[51] and West Ham United.[52] Ba was on the verge of joiningArsenal on a season-long loan, but the move fell through.[53] It was later revealed that the move fell through thanks to Chelsea intervention,[54] though Ba himself considered moving to Arsenal.[55]
He scored his first goal of the season after coming on as a substitute inChampions League match againstSchalke in a 3–0 victory.[56] Ba's firstPremier League goal of the season sealed Chelsea's 3–1 victory overSouthampton.[57] He made his first Champions League start on 11 December 2013 and he scored the only goal of the game, as Chelsea won 1–0 againstSteaua București.[58] On 8 March 2014, he scored twice after coming on as a 76th-minute substitute in a 4–0 win overTottenham Hotspur.[59]
On 8 April 2014, Ba scored an 87th-minute goal in the Champions League quarter-final second-leg againstParis Saint-Germain to send Chelsea through to the semi-finals.[60] On 13 April, he scored the winning goal as Chelsea won 1–0 atSwansea City.[61] On 27 April, during Chelsea's third final match againstLiverpool,Steven Gerrard slipped over while receiving a pass which allowed Ba to score, resulting in Chelsea winning the game 2–0, helping them to stay in the race for the Premier League title.[62] Having only scored 14 goals since his arrival in January 2013, Ba fell behind fellow strikersSamuel Eto'o andFernando Torres, having spent most of the season being on the sidelines.[63] After the arrival ofDiego Costa in the summer, Chelsea decided to allow Ba to search for a new club despite his intention to stay for the 2014–15 season.[64]
On 16 July 2014,Beşiktaş J.K. of the TurkishSüper Lig signed Ba from Chelsea for €6 million.[65][66] He was given the number 9 shirt.[67]
Ba made his official competitive debut for the club againstFeyenoord in the first-leg ofthird qualifying round of the2014–15 UEFA Champions League, coming on as a substitute forOğuzhan Özyakup in the 59th minute, as the match ended 2–1 for Beşiktaş.[68][69]In the second-leg in Istanbul, which was the first time he was in the starting eleven, Ba scored three goals, marking his first hat-trick with the Turkish club in which ended 3–1.[70][71][72] On 19 August, Ba tried a straight shot right after the kick-off, which was saved byArsenal keeperWojciech Szczęsny atPlay-off Round first leg, which ended 0–0.[73]
Ba made a great start to Turkish top flight and scored eight times in 10 games for Besiktas over the first twelve weeks of the season. In UEFA Europa League, Ba proved to be instrumental for Besiktas' success and managed to score five times in five games while Besiktas advanced for the knockout phase.[citation needed]
On 28 June 2015, it was confirmed that Ba had signed a three-year deal withChinese Super League clubShanghai Shenhua.[74] He made his debut on 11 July, starting in a 1–1 draw atTianjin Teda, and scored his first goal four days later in a 3–1 home win overBeijing Guoan. Ba finished the season with six goals in 11 games, including a hat-trick in the final game on 31 October, a 3–1 win overJiangsu Sainty, also at theHongkou Stadium.[75] Although Shanghai lost to Jiangsu Sainty in the2015 Chinese FA Cup final, Ba won the titles of 2015 Chinese FA Cup Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer.[76]
In Ba's second season at Shanghai Shenhua, he scored 14 goals in 18 Super League games, including hat-tricks in wins againstShijiazhuang Ever Bright on 3 April 2016, andHangzhou Greentown on 19 June.[77] On 17 July, Ba broke his leg during a match againstShanghai SIPG when he was knocked off balance bySun Xiang and fell with his leg twisting under him.[78] Shenhua coachGregorio Manzano stated the injury could potentially "end his professional career."[79] French doctor Olivier Bringer performed surgery on Ba's fractured leg successfully on 22 July.[80] After the operation, Bringer affirmed that Ba would be able to play football in a few months.[81]
On 31 January 2017, Beşiktaş confirmed that Ba will join the club on loan from Shanghai Shenhua until May 2017.[82] On 31 January 2018, Ba joined Turkish Süper Lig sideGöztepe S.K. on a free transfer. Ba scored seven goals and assisted one goal in 13 matches before rejoiningShanghai Shenhua.[83]
Ba rejoined Shanghai Shenhua on 14 June 2018.[84] On 18 July 2018, he made his return debut and scored the winning goal in a 1–0 home win overTianjin TEDA.[85]
In January 2019, Ba terminated his contract with Shenhua by mutual consent and joined Turkish clubİstanbul Başakşehir.[86][87]
On 19 July 2020, Ba became a champion of Turkey for a second time in his career as Başakşehir were crownedSüper Lig champions with a 1–0 win overKayserispor.[88] Ba netted in Başakşehir's 2–3 defeat toKasımpaşa on the final day of the league season, finishing thecampaign as the club's top league scorer with 13 goals.[89]
On 8 December 2020, Ba was involved in a racism row with Romanian refereeSebastian Colțescu, who was the fourth official during a Champions League match between Başakşehir andParis Saint-Germain. Ba heard Colțescu saying "negru", confronted him and the match was abandoned when the players subsequently walked off the pitch.[90]
On 19 June 2021, Ba signed a one-year contract forSwiss Super League clubFC Lugano on a free transfer.[91] However, less than three months later on 13 September, Ba announced he had retired from professional football.[92]
Ba played a total of 22 games and scored three goals[93] forSenegal.[94]
Ba is a practisingMuslim. In 2013, He refused, likePapiss Cissé,Hatem Ben Arfa andCheick Tioté, to wear Newcastle United's new sponsorWonga.com's name on their shirts because it is a payday loan firm.
He observes fasting during the Islamic month ofRamadan, along with celebrating his goals by performing theSujud by bowing towardsMecca.[95]
In 2014, when he played for Chelsea, Ba put his jersey up for sale at auction for financing theCollective against Islamophobia in France (CCIF).[96] He declared after theCharlie Hebdo shooting:[97]
What happened in France ... I am a Muslim, and what happened is not Islam. I would have worn a black jersey in tribute to the victims and families. But to wear the inscription "Je suis Charlie", I would not have done it.
In 2017, Ba brought withNicolas Anelka funding to an association created byKémi Séba, a Pan-Africanist and anti-colonial activist with several convictions for anti-Semitism.[98] In August 2020, Ba called on football to condemn China's treatment ofUyghurs.[99]
On 26 June 2017, Ba co-founded withEden Hazard,Yohan Cabaye andMoussa Sow an expansionNorth American Soccer League franchise,San Diego 1904 FC, to begin playing in 2018. In 2021, San Diego 1904 FC merged withAlbion San Diego, which made Ba the head owner of the newly merged team.[100][101]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rouen | 2005–06 | CFA | 26 | 22 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 26 | 22 | |||
| Mouscron | 2006–07 | Belgian Pro League | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 8 | |||
| TSG Hoffenheim | 2007–08 | 2. Bundesliga | 30 | 12 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 33 | 12 | |||
| 2008–09 | Bundesliga | 33 | 14 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 35 | 14 | ||||
| 2009–10 | Bundesliga | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 18 | 5 | ||||
| 2010–11 | Bundesliga | 17 | 6 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 20 | 9 | ||||
| Total | 97 | 37 | 9 | 3 | — | — | — | 106 | 40 | |||||
| West Ham United | 2010–11 | Premier League | 12 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 13 | 7 | |||
| Newcastle United | 2011–12 | Premier League | 34 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 16 | ||
| 2012–13 | Premier League | 20 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | — | 22 | 13 | ||
| Total | 54 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 58 | 29 | |||
| Chelsea | 2012–13 | Premier League | 14 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 6 |
| 2013–14 | Premier League | 19 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6[b] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 8 | |
| Total | 33 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 14 | ||
| Beşiktaş | 2014–15 | Süper Lig | 29 | 18 | 3 | 1 | — | 12 | 8 | — | 44 | 27 | ||
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2015 | Chinese Super League | 11 | 6 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | 16 | 12 | |||
| 2016 | Chinese Super League | 18 | 14 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 21 | 17 | ||||
| Total | 29 | 20 | 8 | 9 | — | — | — | 37 | 29 | |||||
| Beşiktaş (loan) | 2016–17 | Süper Lig | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | |||
| Göztepe | 2017–18 | Süper Lig | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 13 | 7 | |||
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2018 | Chinese Super League | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 5 | |||
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2018–19 | Süper Lig | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | Süper Lig | 28 | 13 | 4 | 2 | — | 9[a] | 0 | — | 41 | 15 | |||
| 2020–21 | Süper Lig | 26 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | 6[b] | 1 | 1[c] | 1 | 37 | 9 | ||
| Total | 59 | 20 | 8 | 4 | — | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 83 | 26 | |||
| Lugano | 2021–22 | Swiss Super League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 386 | 181 | 36 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 35 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 465 | 215 | ||
Source:[93]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senegal | 2007 | 5 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 22 | 3 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2 June 2007 | CCM Kirumba Stadium,Mwanza, Tanzania |  Tanzania | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2. | 26 March 2011 | Stade Léopold Senghor,Dakar, Senegal |  Cameroon | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 3. | 12 January 2012 | Stade Léopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal |  Sudan | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
Beşiktaş
İstanbul Başakşehir
Individual
|  | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
