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Chelsea’s top six all-time best players from Africa

By Kevin Peacock

LONDON - NOVEMBER 12: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates his opening goal with Salomon Kalou of Chelsea during the Carling Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge on November 12, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON - NOVEMBER 12: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates his opening goal with Salomon Kalou of Chelsea during the Carling Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge on November 12, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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Celestine Babayaro

Chelsea appearances (goals): 174 (8)

Chelsea’s first venture into the African market came in 1997 when Ruud Gullit bought the Nigerian teenager Celestine Babayaro to the club. At 18 years old he was already a winner, having been part of a Nigerian side that beat Argentina to pick up a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic games.

Babayaro joined the Blues from Belgian side Anderlecht for £2.25 million. The young left-back suffered a disappointing start to his career at Stamford Bridge. Having just established himself in the starting XI, a serious foot injury after eight games sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign.

Following a slow rehabilitation, the next two seasons saw Baba, as he was affectionately nicknamed, make a real impact for the Blues. He scored his first goal in a blue shirt against Newcastle United, and he introduced the acrobatic back flip that became his signature celebration.

Baba’s time at the club came under the stewardship of Gullit and Gianluca Vialli, a period that started the most successful era in Chelsea FC’s history. He was a member of of the squad that made its debut in the Champions League in 1999.

Flamboyant and likeable, Celestine Babayaro was Chelsea all over. The arrival of Roman Abramovich’s money and Wayne Bridge sadly signalled the demise of his Chelsea career. He left to join Newcastle United at the beginning of 2005 for a fee in the region of £1 million. Unfortunately, injury blighted the Nigerian’s time there and at subsequent clubs.

He retired from football in 2010 and declared bankruptcy the following year, an ignominious end to a once promising career.

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