Baba Rahman

Abdul Rahman Baba (born 2 July 1994),also known as Baba Rahman, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Greek Super League club PAOK and the Ghana national team.

Baba Rahman
Rahman with Schalke 04 in 2018
Personal information
Full name Abdul Rahman Baba[1]
Date of birth (1994-07-02) 2 July 1994[2]
Place of birth Tamale, Ghana[3]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[4]
Position(s) Left wing-back
Team information
Current team
 PAOK
Number 21
Youth career
2004–2010 Young Meteors Tamale
2010–2011 Dreams FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 → Asante Kotoko (loan) 25 (0)
2012–2014 Greuther Fürth 44 (2)
2014–2015 FC Augsburg 31 (0)
2015–2023 Chelsea 15 (0)
2016–2017 → Schalke 04 (loan) 13 (0)
2018–2019 → Schalke 04 (loan) 3 (0)
2019 → Reims (loan) 11 (1)
2019–2020 → Mallorca (loan) 2 (0)
2021 → PAOK (loan) 13 (1)
2021–2022 → Reading (loan) 29 (0)
2022–2023 → Reading (loan) 18 (0)
2023– PAOK 6 (0)
International career‡
2013 Ghana U20[3] 7 (0)
2014– Ghana 51 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:10, 22 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:10, 12 June 2023 (UTC)

Beginning his career at Dreams FC, he played in the Ghanaian Premier League with Asante Kotoko. In 2012, he signed for Bundesliga club Greuther Fürth, where he spent two seasons. He then played for FC Augsburg before joining Chelsea in 2015 for a fee of £14 million, potentially rising to £22 million.

Rahman made his international debut in 2014 and was part of their squad which were runners-up at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Early life

Abdul Rahman Baba was born on 2 July 1994 in Tamale in the Northern Region of Ghana[5][6] to Alhaji Baba (Zobognaa) and Hajia Fati Baba Sibdoo.[7] He attended Our Lady Of Fatima JHS and Young Dakpem’yili JHS, all in Tamale.[8][9] He made his footballing debut with his local team Young Meteors Tamale[10] playing for them from 2004 to 2010, before being scouted and joining Dreams FC, an Accra based club at the age of 16.[5]

Club career

Ghana

Rahman began his career at Dreams FC of the Ghana Division Two. After impressive performances, he was then transferred on loan to Asante Kotoko of the Ghanaian Premier League for one season.[11]

For the 2012 season, Rahman was a finalist for the league's Discovery of the Year Award, eventually losing to Joshua Oninku.[12] After becoming a sought after player during his time with the Kumasi-based club, serious enquiries were made about the player by Manchester City and Arsenal of the Premier League and Parma of Serie A.[13]

Germany
Rahman with Greuther Fürth in 2012

However, Rahman eventually signed with newly promoted Greuther Fürth in the Bundesliga on 12 June 2012. Rahman stated that his decision to join Fürth was because the club offered, "the best conditions in which to develop my career."[11] In the derby against 1. FC Nürnberg on 11 August 2014 he scored his first two goals for Fürth in a 5–1 home victory.[14] The next day he signed with FC Augsburg of the same division.[15]

In Rahman's 2014–15 season with Augsburg, he made 108 tackles, more than any other player in the Bundesliga that season. Using aspects of his strength and pace, he was able to win 90 of those tackles, coming out to an 83% successful tackle rate. That season, Rahman also had 83 interceptions and won 80 contested aerial balls.[16]

Baba Rahman playing for Chelsea in 2016

2015–16 season

On 16 August 2015, Rahman signed for Chelsea on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, reported to be an initial £14 million, rising to a potential fee of almost £22 million.[17][18][19][20] He made his debut on 16 September in a UEFA Champions League tie, playing the full 90 minutes in a 4–0 win at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv.[21] He made his Premier League debut in a 2–0 win over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on 17 October.[22] He played at left-back in games including their 2–1 Champions League win over Dynamo Kyiv.

On 27 February, Rahman made an error which allowed Southampton's Shane Long to score in the 42nd minute; he was substituted for Kenedy at half time but Chelsea eventually won 2–1 at St. Mary's.[23]

Schalke 04 (loan)
Baba playing for Schalke 04 in 2018

On 2 August 2016, FC Schalke 04 confirmed that Rahman had moved on a season-long loan to the club after failing to impress the new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte during pre-season. Rahman was given the number 14 jersey for the upcoming season. He was signed by his former Augsburg manager, Markus Weinzierl.[24][25] Rahman told the local newspaper Ruhr Nachrichten that Conte advised him to leave on loan because he preferred more defensive players than him.[26]

Rahman made his competitive debut for the Gelsenkirchen team on 20 August, as a winger instead of a defender in a 4–1 victory against FC 08 Villingen in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.[27] He made his league debut on 27 August, coming on for Sead Kolašinac in the 62nd minute of an eventual 1–0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt on the first day of the season.[28] Rahman scored his first goal for Schalke on 15 September, the game's only in a Europa League victory at OGC Nice.[29]

In January 2018, Rahman joined Schalke 04 on loan for a second time agreeing an 18-month stay until summer 2019.[30][31]

Reims (loan)

In January 2019, he returned early to Chelsea and was immediately loaned to Stade de Reims until the end of the season.[32]

Mallorca (loan)

On 2 September 2019, the last day of transfer window, Rahman was again loaned out in a season-long deal, this time to newly promoted La Liga side Mallorca.[33]

PAOK (loan)

On 30 January 2021, Rahman was loaned out to PAOK for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[10] He made his debut for the Greek side against Lamia on 20 February scoring the first goal in a 4–0 victory to send his side second in the league table.[34][35]

Reading (loan)

On 27 August 2021, Rahman joined Reading on loan.[36] He made his debut for the club against Queens Park Rangers on 10 September. On 31 August 2022, Rahman rejoined Reading on another season-long-loan.[37]

PAOK

On 10 July 2023, Rahman left Chelsea after eight years.[38] He signed a two-year contract with a one-year extension option to Super League Greece club PAOK.[39]

International career

Rahman played every minute of Ghana's campaign at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, providing the cross from which André Ayew headed in the winner against South Africa to win Group C.[40] In the final against the Ivory Coast, Rahman scored in the penalty shootout in which his team lost 9–8.[41]

Baba Rahman was selected for Ghana's final squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and provided an assist during his side's opening match against Portugal; he produced the cross which was headed into goal by Osman Bukari.[42]

Personal life

Rahman has "Baba" on the back of his jersey, the name of his Chelsea-supporting father.[43] In May 2016, Rahman married his longtime childhood girlfriend, Selma, in their hometown of Tamale in northern Ghana.[44] Rahman started doing philanthropic work in his hometown, Tamale whilst playing in Europe. In 2021, he donated football materials and equipment to his former school and to the Tamale Juvenile Unit to help upcoming sportsmen within the northern part of Ghana.[8][9]

Career statistics

Club
As of 3 September 2023[45]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Greuther Fürth 2012–13 Bundesliga 20010———210
2013–14 2. Bundesliga 22010——2[lower-alpha 1]0250
2014–15 2. Bundesliga 2200———22
Total 44220——20482
FC Augsburg 2014–15 Bundesliga 31000———310
2015–16 Bundesliga 0010———10
Total 31010———320
Chelsea 2015–16 Premier League 15020204[lower-alpha 2]000230
Schalke 04 (loan) 2016–17 Bundesliga 13020—6[lower-alpha 3]1—211
2017–18 Bundesliga 1000———10
2018–19 Bundesliga 2010—1[lower-alpha 2]0—40
Total 16030—71—261
Reims (loan) 2018–19 Ligue 1 1110000——111
Mallorca (loan) 2019–20 La Liga 2030———50
PAOK (loan) 2020–21 Super League Greece 13140———171
Reading (loan) 2021–22 Championship 2900000——290
2022–23 Championship 1802000——200
Total 4702000——490
PAOK 2023–24 Super League Greece 2000—5[lower-alpha 4]0—70
Career total 181417020161202185
  1. Appearances in Bundesliga promotion play-offs
  2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International
As of match played 2 December 2022[46]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Ghana 201450
2015120
201680
201710
201800
201950
202020
202181
2022100
Total511
Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rahman goal.
List of international goals scored by Baba Rahman[46]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
128 March 2021Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana São Tomé and Príncipe3–03–12021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

Asante Kotoko

PAOK

Ghana

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Ghana (GHA)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 14. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. "Premier League Player Profile Baba Basir". Barclays Premier League. 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. "Abdul Rahman Baba". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  4. "Baba Rahman | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club".
  5. "FEATURE: Baba Abdul Rahman and the transformation in Greece". GhanaSoccernet. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  6. Gyimah, Edmund Okai (13 October 2014). "Baba Rahman fired up for Guinea clash in Tamale | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  7. Ibrahim, Mohammed. "Chelsea left back Baba Rahman donates to Orphans in Tamale". Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  8. Osman, Abdul Wadudu (21 June 2021). "Baba Rahman donates Football equipment to support Juvenile Football in Tamale". Football Made In Ghana. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  9. Osman, Abdul Wadudu (6 June 2021). "Black Stars and Chelsea defender, Baba Rahman donates to two schools in Tamale". Football Made In Ghana. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  10. "Baba Rahman joins PAOK". PAOKFC. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  11. "German club Greuther Furth beats Arsenal to sign Rahman". MTN Football. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  12. "Daniel Nii Adjei wins Player of the Season Award". GhanaWeb. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  13. "Arsenal, Man City deals loom for Kotoko left-back Abdul-Rahman". GhanaSoccerNet. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  14. "Doppelpacker Baba lässt das Kleeblatt tanzen". kicker.de. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  15. "Baba-Wechsel zum FCA perfekt". kicker.de. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  16. "Chelsea transfer news: Who is Baba Rahman?". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  17. "Baba Rahman moves to Stamford Bridge from Augsburg". BBC Sport. 16 August 2015.
  18. "Rahman signs". Chelsea FC. 16 August 2015.
  19. "Baba moves to Chelsea". FC Augsburg. 16 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  20. Dudko, James (16 August 2015). "Baba Rahman Completes Transfer to Chelsea from Augsburg". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  21. "Chelsea 4-0 Maccabi Tel-Aviv". BBC Sport. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  22. Dawkes, Phil (17 October 2015). "Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  23. Sanghera, Mandeep (27 February 2016). "Southampton 1-2 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  24. "Baba makes Schalke switch". www.chelseafc.com. Chelsea F.C. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  25. "Abdul Rahman Baba joins S04 on loan". www.schalke04.de. FC Schalke 04. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  26. Buczko, Stefan (3 August 2016). "Baba Rahman 'too attacking' for Chelsea manager Antonio Conte". ESPN.
  27. "Villingen 1-4 Schalke 04". Soccerway. 20 August 2016.
  28. "Frankfurt hold on to beat Schalke". Bundesliga. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  29. "OGC Nice 0-1 FC Schalke 04 | UEFA Europa League | Report". bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website.
  30. Cann, James (29 January 2018). "Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman joins Schalke on 18-month loan". Irish Independent. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  31. "Bis 2019: Schalke leiht Baba erneut aus". kicker Online (in German). 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  32. "Baba Rahman loaned to Reims". Chelsea FC. 29 January 2019.
  33. "Abdul Rahman Baba Joins RCD Mallorca On Loan From Chelsea". RCD Mallorca. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  34. "Baba Rahman Scores On Debut For PAOK Heavy Victory Against Lamia In Greece". Ghana Football News. 21 February 2021.
  35. "Baba Rahman Scores On Debut For PAOK Heavy Victory Against Lamia In Greece". Ghana Football News. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  36. "Rahman joins the Royals". readingfc.co.uk. 27 August 2021.
  37. "Confirmed | Baba is back!".
  38. "Baba completes move to Greece". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  39. "Baba is back". PAOKFC. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  40. "South Africa 1-2 Ghana". BBC Sport. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  41. Smith, Alan (8 February 2015). "Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations on penalties – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  42. "Otto Addo defends Baba Rahman over 'unlucky' role in Portugal's second goal". Citi Sports Online. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  43. Perrin, Charles (19 August 2015). "Revealed: Chelsea new boy Baba Rahman explains decision behind choosing shirt name". Daily Express. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  44. "Baba Rahman Marries Childhood Girlfriend Salma". GhanaStar. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  45. Baba Rahman at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  46. Baba Rahman at National-Football-Teams.com
  47. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Baba Rahman". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  48. Georgakopoulos, George. "Krmencik's late strike gives PAOK its eighth Greek Cup (images) | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  49. Hughes, Ian (8 February 2015). "Ivory Coast 0–0 Ghana". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
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