Chelsea complete Demba Ba signing from Newcastle

London: Chelsea have signed Newcastle United striker Demba Ba on a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee. The 27-year-old has scored 13 league goals for the Magpies this season.

Ba joined the European champions on Friday and is eligible for Saturday's FA Cup match at Southampton. Ba's arrival will help alleviate the burden of responsibility placed upon £50m frontman Fernando Torres.

Ba was halfway through a three-year Newcastle contract but Chelsea activated a release clause in his deal. The Senegalese, who moved to Newcastle from West Ham in June 2011, replaces Daniel Sturridge, who left Stamford Bridge to join Liverpool this week.

The 27-year-old has scored 13 league goals for the Magpies this season.

Ba, 27, said, "It feels good to be here, I'm very happy and very proud.

"It was important for me, and for Newcastle, to get my future sorted and now we can move on."

"Now they have the whole month to buy someone and for me as well, the sooner the better. Now I am here I just need to get settled in."

"When the club who won the Champions League wants you, the decision is very easy."

"This club is massive and that's something that helped the decision a lot. It was not a hard one."

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