Chelsea have confirmed the exit of Baba Rahman on a permanent transfer to PAOK, ending his eight-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
The left-back cost in the region of £14million when signed from German club Augsburg in 2015 and made all 23 of his appearances for the Blues in his debut season before a string of loan spells.
A three-year spell at Schalke was followed by stints with Reims, Mallorca, PAOK and Reading before his return to Greece, which Chelsea sanctioned despite him having a year left on his contract.
Rahman told Standard Sport last year of how injuries blighted his development as he sought a fresh start away from west London.
“We wish Baba well as he begins the next chapter of his career,” read a Chelsea statement after his move was completed.
Despite not playing for the club in seven seasons, Rahman was technically the longest-serving player on the books at the Bridge.
That honour, based on length of time with the team since their debut, now hands over to Ethan Ampadu with almost six years now past since his first-team bow in 2017 at the tender age of 16.
The Wales international is back at Chelsea this summer following a loan spell at Spezia, with his future uncertain.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is the longest continual-serving player in the dressing room having signed in August 2018 and, unlike Ampadu, he’s remained with the team since his debut.
Chelsea’s next longest servants appear destined to leave the club this summer, in Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic. Reece James then follows after his debut in September 2019.
