Abdul Rahman Baba‘s transfer to Chelsea has been confirmed by his erstwhile German employers FC Augsburg on their official Twitter account.
Official: @babarahmangh leaves #FCA and joins @ChelseaFC! Good luck for your future, #Baba! http://t.co/xCHOZD1Gia pic.twitter.com/mRY0Xc55TL
— FC Augsburg (@FCAugsburg) August 16, 2015
The move has been expected for sometime [Daily Mail], particularly after Pensioners boss Jose Mourinho allowed back-up left-back Felipe Luis to return to his former club Atletico Madrid.
The Brazil international only moved to Stamford Bridge last season, after winning the Liga BBVA title in Spain, and was allowed to move back to the Spanish capital after having failed to dislodge Cesar Azpilicueta from the starting XI.
According to a statement on Augsburg’s official website, an undisclosed fee has been agreed between the two clubs and the defender is set to move immediately.
Baba is a Ghana international, who starred at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations as part of Avram Grant’s first team after having only made his international bow in the months following the 2014 World Cup.
While he looks set for a long future with the national side, it remains to be seen whether he will stand a better chance of displacing Azpilicueta from the first team than his predecessor Filipe Luis.
Unfortunately for Chelsea, Baba’s arrival coincides with some measure of defensive uncertainty for the reigning champions.
The Blues were outclassed 3-0 by Manchester City on Sunday, with John Terry—for so long a pillar of the side, particularly under Jose Mourinho—substituted at half-time.
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The defender appeared uncertain during the first 45 minutes, and was particularly troubled by Sergio Aguero, as he had been by Swansea City’s forwards last weekend.
Terry’s predicament is put in context by Chelsea’s rumoured interest in Everton centre-back John Stones [Express], who could prove to be the natural long-term successor for the 34-year-old Blues skipper.