Its official – Demba Ba has signed a 3 year contract at Newcastle United. It came after there were doubts about the deal going through a few hours ago.

Demba Ba said, “I’m already happy with what ive seen. I’m very excited. Never played here. I came a couple of days after West Ham played Newcastle. I can’t wait to start playing here and see how good the stage is.”

“I was on holiday and my agent was just doing all the work. Then when I came back he showed me the offer of Newcastle and I said Ok lets go there.”

“First of all the team they have this season and the new signing from last week Yohan Cabaye and all the players they have is a really interesting challenge. Coming to Newcastle that a big club, I admit was that was the reason.”

“The ambition this season I don’t know yet I have to train first with the team see how I feel I fit I am then the ambition will come. Like I always did when I play football when I step on the pitch for the 3 points. I am going to keep on doing this as many games as possible I will be happy.”

“The history of the strikers here is just fantastic. I come here and I hope to do my bit and its gonna be good and gonna be enough. I just expect to help the team go up and help the team winning as many games as possible. The only way to keep this average of goals is to work hard Im going to keep working hard to keep the average I had at West Ham (scoring goals).”

“Unfortunately Nolan left and everybody knows Nolan is a great player so I think the club is going to do everything they can to replace him. I mean with the team they have today the team is already good so I really look forward to start playing.”

Alan Pardew was quoted saying, “He’s a player who has got a natural eye for a goal, my connections at West Ham are very, very good and I know everything about him and therefore I’m pretty relaxed that he’s going to be a success at Newcastle – if we can get him.

“But it’s a big ‘if’ at the moment because there are some big hurdles to get across – there’s obviously other suitors and there’s an issue about his medical as there has been in the past.

“We’ve got to overcome those things, but hopefully he can join the club. I think he’ll be a big success for us.”

Clearly Pardew wanted this guy and whether the doubts in the medical were a move by Ashley to get him to drop his wages demands remains to be seen. But even so picking up a player who had a good half season for a poor Hammers team for free represents good business.

Demba Ba has taken up squad number 19.

Thats the first striker in now another 2 or 3 please.

PS – Neil Taylor is expected to complete his move from Swansea over the next few days.