Abdul Rahman Baba

Who is Abdul Rahman Baba?

Abdul Rahman Baba, commonly known as Baba Rahman, is an African left-back who plays for Premier League giants Chelsea. Ghana international was born on 2 July 1994 in Tamale in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Baba signed with newly promoted Greuther Fürth in the Bundesliga in summer 2012. In the derby with Nürnberg in summer 2014, Rahman scored his first two goals for the club in a 5–1 home win.

The next day Ghana international signed with Augsburg of the same league.

In Baba’s 2014–15 campaign with the Fuggerstädter, the left-back made 108 tackles, more than any other footballer in the Bundesliga that campaign.

In that campaign, the African defender also had 83 interceptions and won 80 contested aerial balls.

In summer 2015, the 27-year-old defender signed for Chelsea on a five-year contract for an initial £14m fee, rising to a possible price of nearly £22m.

Rahman made his Premier League debut in a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on 17 October.

In summer 2016, Schalke 04 confirmed that Baba had moved on a season-long loan to the Bundesliga club after failing to impress the new Blues coach Antonio Conte during pre-season.

The African defender scored his first goal for the Miners on 15 September, the game’s only in a Europa League win against Nice.

In winter 2018, Baba joined the German club on loan for a second time, agreeing on an 18-month remain until summer 2019.

In winter 2019, the Ghanaian defender returned early to the London club and was quickly loaned to Stade Reims until the end of the campaign.

On 2 September 2019, the last day of the transfer window, Baba was again loaned out in a season-long deal to newly-promoted Spanish club Mallorca.

In winter 2021, the 27-year-old left-back was loaned out to PAOK for the rest of the 2020–21 campaign.

What is Abdul Rahman Baba’s international career like?

Rahman made his debut for the Greek club with Lamia on 20 February, scoring the first goal in a 4–0 win to send his club second in the league table.

Baba played every minute of the national team’s campaign at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, providing the cross from which André Ayew headed in the winner with South Africa to win Group C.

In the final with the Ivory Coast, Baba scored in the penalty shootout in which his team lost 9–8.