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Augsburg confirm Baba’s transfer to Chelsea

Germany's Augsburg confirmed on Sunday they have sold Ghana international defender Abdul Rahman Baba to Premier League champions Chelsea for a reported fee of €19.8 million.

Augsburg confirm Baba's transfer to Chelsea
Abdul Rahman Baba. Photo: DPA.

With bonuses, the deal could exceed €30 million — more than Augsburg's budget for the season.

The 21-year-old cost just €2.5 million when he joined Augsburg last year from German second-division club Greuther Fuerth, who are now set to get a 25 percent share from his sale to Chelsea.

“Abdul Baba Rahman has developed enormously is his one year with us and made a giant leap,” said Augsburg's chief executive Stefan Reuter.

“It's not just a reward for his performances, but also for our work, if an international giant like Chelsea shows interest.”

Baba passed a medical on Saturday and is off to battle for the Blues' left-back berth following the departure of Brazil defender Filipe Luis back to Atletico Madrid after only one season at Stamford Bridge.

“I have to take this opportunity to play at a top club in England, even if I had planned on a long-term stay at Augsburg only a year ago,” said Baba.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho welcomed the news. 

“It is important because he is a left-back, so he can compete with (Cesar) Azpilicueta,” said Mourinho after his team's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

“At the same time, Azpilicueta can compete with (Branislav) Ivanovic for the right-back position, so he replaces Filipe Luis in the balance of the squad.”

Rahman has made 13 appearances for the Black Stars and played in the African Cup of Nations defeat to the Ivory Coast on penalties in the final in January.

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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