FOXBOROUGH, MA– The New England Revolution are reportedly close to signing Ghanian defensive midfielder Iddrisu Baba from La Liga side UD Almería.
He would occupy a senior roster slot.
Idrissa Baba (4) poses for the first time after signing with UD Almería. Image Courtesy of UD Almería.
Iddrisu Baba is a 28-year-old, 6’1, 170lb defensive midfielder from Accra, Ghana.
At the club level, Baba has played 234 career games (16,042 minutes) across Spain with Club Deportivo Leganés B (2015-16), Real Club Deportivo Mallorca B (2016-18), on loan at Barakaldo Club de Fútbol (2017-18), Real Club Deportivo Mallorca (2018-present) and on loan UD Almería (2023-present). New England would be his 6th professional club.
Internationally, Baba has made 18 appearances for the Ghana National Team. In regard to major tournaments, he has represented the Nation in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
In career numbers, the midfielder has contributed 3 career goals, 2 assists, along with 50 yellow cards and 1 red card.
According to Spanish journalist Hugo Cerezo of Relevo, The New England Revolution are reportedly close to signing Iddrisu Baba.
Iddrisu Baba, traspaso sorpresa: a punto de irse a la MLS.
A pesar de que restan siete jornadas, el Almería está a punto de dar vía libre a la marcha inmediata del centrocampista al New England Revolution.
@hugocerezo https://t.co/btrXpuxZrW
— Relevo (@relevo) April 19, 2024
The process remains complicated as Iddrisu Baba has 7 days left in La Liga for him to be able to transfer to New England. The complicated part? He is on loan at UD Almería from Real Club Deportivo Mallorca. The loan does include a purchase option though, which both sides are comfortable initiating for the deal to move forward.
The club has already told Baba he is not included in their plans for next season. He is the tenth most used player this season.
The 2023-24 La Liga Standings.
Almería, who haven’t had the best season in LA Liga are set to be relegated at the conclusion of the season. In a translated recount with the club’s official radio station at the end of November, Baba stated, “I haven’t left the house for a long time, I’m always stuck there. In this situation it’s difficult to go down the street. I know that the fans “It hurts a lot. I’m a person who thinks too much, because most of the time I’m at home doing nothing and I’m thinking too much.”.
Baba is looking to right his own ship with a potential new career in New England. He would join fellow Ghanian Emmanuel Boateng as well as Ghana International teammate Jonathan Mensah (2009-Present). The trio are all from the nation’s capital of Accra.
The New England Revolution (1-1-5, 4 pts.) head out to the Toronto, Canada where they are set to face MLS Eastern Conference side Toronto FC (1-2-4, 5 pts.) on Saturday, April 20th. The match kicks off in BMO Field at 7:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
