In 2015, Jose Mourinho brought Abdul Rahman Baba to Chelsea for a hefty £21 million, aiming to provide cover for and eventually replace Cesar Azpilicueta.
Mourinho saw Baba as the ideal heir to the Spanish defender, believing his arrival would foster competition within the team.
He emphasized the importance of a challenging environment, highlighting Baba’s potential to push Azpilicueta for the starting spot. However, Baba’s time at Chelsea was disrupted by loans and injuries.
A move to FC Schalke 04 yielded one goal and two assists, but a knee ligament injury during his loan spell at Mallorca in 2019 dealt a devastating blow to his progress.
Reflecting on this setback, Baba revealed his initial despair, admitting to wanting to quit football after hearing the news. But ultimately, he chose to persevere, determined to return to the pitch.
After recovering, Baba embarked on loan spells at PAOK Salonika and Reading before securing a permanent move to PAOK in 2023 for £1.6 million.
Since joining PAOK, Baba has made 44 appearances, contributing six goals and four assists from his left-back position.
