Done Deal: Chelsea Sign Newcastle United Striker Demba Ba

St James Park boss confirms striker's move to Stamford Bridge.



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Alan Pardew has revealed that Demba Ba's move to Chelsea is as good as done and says the striker will leave with Newcastle's blessing.

The Blues have been given permission to talk to the Senegal international after triggering a release clause in his contract with a £7m bid.

Ba was withdrawn from the Newcastle squad to face Everton at St James' Park and speaking before kick-off, Pardew was confident the move would swiftly go through.

"It's done. He will go to Chelsea with our blessing," Pardew told Sky Sports.

"He has done fantastic for us and it's not a bad thing, all the uncertainty is now done and we can move on.

"The ball was always in Demba's court. But this club is bigger than any player for sure."

SOURCE: Sky Sports

And with that an inevitable departure has finally been completed.

With a £7.5m release clause hanging over his head Demba Ba has been strongly linked with a move away from St James' Park for the best part of six months and now it appears that the Senegal international is on his way to Chelsea, where he will greatly improve the current striking options Rafa Benitez has to call upon.

With Daniel Sturridge completing a move to Liverpool the West London side are even more reliant on Fernando Torres to provide an end product and despite a good run of form in recent weeks it is all to clear that the Spaniard can not be expected to shoulder the goal-scoring burden by himself, as evidenced by tonight's lacklustre display against QPR.

Demba Ba is a proven Premier League marksman and a player who seemed very keen to use Newcastle United as a stepping stone much as he did with West Ham previously and now the powerful forward gets to ply his trade with one of Europe's 'Elite' and will hope that he can help the Blues to secure major honours and perhaps a first taste of Champions League football next term.

Ba netted seven goals in 12 with West Ham before he left on a free transfer due to a release clause that was triggered when the Hammers were relegated. The French born forward then scored 16 goals in his first season at Newcastle United and has managed 13 goals already this season.




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