• Premier League

Chelsea complete Ba signing

ESPN staff
January 4, 2013
Demba Ba is now a Chelsea player © Getty Images
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Chelsea have completed the signing of striker Demba Ba from Newcastle United.

Ba has put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge, after the Blues triggered the £7 million release clause in his Magpies contract.

The deal was completed just in time for the Senegal international to be available to manager Rafa Benitez for the FA Cup tie against Southampton this weekend.

"It feels good to be here, I'm very happy and very proud," Ba said. "When the club who won the Champions League wants you, the decision is very easy.

"This club is massive and that's something that helped the decision a lot. It was not a hard one."

Ba is also available for the club's Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea, but cannot play in the Europa League due to Newcastle's own ongoing participation in the competition.

He will wear the No. 29 shirt for Chelsea.

"It was important for me, and for Newcastle, to get my future sorted and now we can move on," Ba added. "Now they have the whole month to buy someone and for me as well, the sooner the better.

"Now I am here I just need to get settled in."

Ba was Newcastle's top scorer for the first half of the season, scoring 13 Premier League goals - including a hat-trick in what turned out to be his final game for the club, the 7-3 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

He previously gained Premier League experience with West Ham.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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