Abdul Rahman Baba
Ghanaian footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abdul Rahman Baba (born 2 July 1994), also known as Baba Rahman, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Super League Greece club PAOK and the Ghana national team.
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Baba playing for Ghana in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Abdul Rahman Baba[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 2 July 1994[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Tamale, Ghana[3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[4] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Left-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 | 74 | (12) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Ghana U20[3] | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014–2023 | Ghana | 52 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 7 September 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
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.
Baba 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 by Dreams FC, an Accra based club at the age of 16.[5]
Club career
Ghana
Baba 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, Baba 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
However, Baba eventually signed with newly promoted Greuther Fürth in the Bundesliga on 12 June 2012. Baba stated that his decision to join Fürth was because the club offered, "the best conditions to further 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 Baba'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, Baba also had 83 interceptions and won 80 contested aerial balls.[16]
Chelsea
2015–16 season
On 16 August 2015, Baba 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, Baba 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)
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On 2 August 2016, FC Schalke 04, confirmed that Baba had moved on a season-long loan to the club after failing to impress the new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte during pre-season. Baba was given the number 14 jersey for the upcoming season. He was signed by his former Augsburg manager, Markus Weinzierl.[24][25] Baba told the local newspaper Ruhr Nachrichten that Conte advised him to leave on loan because he preferred more defensive players than him.[26]
Baba 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] Baba 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, Baba 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, Baba 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, Baba 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, Baba joined Reading on loan.[36] He made his debut for the club against Queens Park Rangers on 10 September. On 31 August 2022, Baba rejoined Reading on another season-long-loan.[37]
PAOK
On 10 July 2023, Baba left Chelsea after eight years and seven loan duties at other clubs.[38] He signed a two-year contract with a one-year extension option to Super League Greece club PAOK.[39] On 6 August 2024, Baba scored for PAOK on the 75th minute to clinch a 2–2 draw against Malmö in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round.[40][41]
International career
Baba 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.[42] In the final against the Ivory Coast, Baba scored in the penalty shootout in which his team lost 9–8.[43]
Abdul Rahman Baba 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.[44]
Personal life
Abdul Rahman Baba has "Baba" on the back of his jersey for his Chelsea-supporting father.[45] In May 2016, Baba married his longtime childhood girlfriend, Salma, in their hometown of Tamale in northern Ghana.[46] Baba 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 match played 13 April 2025[47]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Greuther Fürth | 2012–13 | Bundesliga | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | 2. Bundesliga | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2[c] | 0 | 25 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15 | 2. Bundesliga | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 44 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 48 | 2 | ||||
| Augsburg | 2014–15[48] | Bundesliga | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 31 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16[49] | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | ||||
| Chelsea | 2015–16[49] | Premier League | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| 2016–17[50] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18[51] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[52] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[53] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020–21[54] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[55] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[56] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
| Schalke 04 (loan) | 2016–17[50] | Bundesliga | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 6[e] | 1 | — | 21 | 1 | ||
| Schalke 04 (loan) | 2017–18[51] | Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19[52] | Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Reims (loan) | 2018–19[52] | Ligue 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||
| Mallorca (loan) | 2019–20[53] | La Liga | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| PAOK (loan) | 2020–21 | Super League Greece | 13 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 1 | ||
| Reading (loan) | 2021–22[55] | Championship | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 | ||
| Reading (loan) | 2022–23[56] | Championship | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||
| PAOK | 2023–24 | Super League Greece | 28 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 14[f] | 1 | — | 44 | 7 | ||
| 2024–25 | Super League Greece | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 16[g] | 3 | — | 43 | 8 | |||
| Total | 54 | 11 | 3 | 0 | — | 30 | 4 | — | 87 | 15 | ||||
| Career total | 233 | 15 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 298 | 20 | ||
- Includes DFB Pokal, FA Cup, Coupe de France, Greek Cup
- Includes EFL Cup, Coupe de la Ligue
- Appearances in Bundesliga Promotion/Relegation play-offs
- Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, twelve appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
International
- As of match played 7 September 2023[57]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana | 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| 2015 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 52 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Baba goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 March 2021 | Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana |  São Tomé and Príncipe |
3–0 | 3–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | [58] |
