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2. Demba Ba – 1899 Hoffenheim to Stoke City (2011)
After scoring 6 goals in 17 appearances during the first half of 2010-11 for Hoffenheim, French striker Demba Ba was a player in demand during the January transfer window. A number of Premier League clubs registered their interest in him, and to attempt to force a move, the striker refused to travel to Hoffenheim’s winter training camp.
After threatening to sack Ba, fine him, take him to court and even attempt to ban him from moving for six months, the Bundesliga side eventually relented, and agreed to let him talk to potential suitors. It looked like Stoke City would be his likely destination, and a fee of £7.1m was agreed between the two clubs for the Frenchman.
Ba even agreed personal terms with the Potters and it looked like Tony Pulis had his man – that was, until the striker failed a medical due to an underlying knee condition that had caused a move to Stuttgart to fall through two years prior. Despite Ba claiming he was 100% confident of playing his whole career with no issues, Stoke then withdrew their offer.
After the protracted attempt to leave the club, though, a return to Hoffenheim for the Frenchman was a no-go – and so instead, West Ham decided to take a risk on him, signing him with three days remaining in the window on a pay-as-you-play deal. And as it turned out, his knee was fine, as he completed 12 games for the Hammers, scoring 7 goals in the process.
