Mueez Ajao
– Former Chelsea and Senegal striker Demba Ba has announced his retirement from football.
– Ba took to social media on Monday to make his decision public, almost a month after he left Swiss Super League club Lugano.
– He joined Lugano on a free transfer in June and he only played 47 minutes of league football before he terminated his contract, reportedly because of a change of ownership.
– Ba, born in France to Senegalese parents, started his career at French club Rouen and he enjoyed a nomadic playing career across Belgium, Germany, England, Turkey, China and Switzerland.
– During his club career, the 36-year-old won the Uefa Europa League with Chelsea in the 2012-13 season and he clinched the Turkish Super Lig title twice with Besiktas and Istanbul Basaksehir in the 2016-17 and 2019-20 season,s respectively.
– On the international stage, he played for Senegal between 2007 and 2015 with four goals to his name in 22 matches.
– “It is with a heart filled with gratefulness that I announce the end of my playing career. What a wonderful journey it has been,” Ba wrote on Twitter.
– “Beside all the sweat and tears I have faced, football has given me so many beautiful emotions.
– “From the passion of the fans and the noise coming from the stands after every goal to the connection with my teammates on and off the field , this will forever remain in my head and heart.
– “I want to thank everyone I’ve crossed paths with and helped me grow, every club and manager for given me an opportunity, the fans for their tremendous support and my family and friends for unconditional love.
– “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Praise be to the almighty.”
– Ba joined Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea in January 2013, where he scored 14 goals before moving to Besiktas in June 2014.
