Baba Rahman has revealed the emotional toll his time at Chelsea took on him, admitting he came close to quitting football after a series of severe injuries.
The Ghanaian left-back, who joined Chelsea from Augsburg in 2015 for an initial £14 million, spent eight years at Stamford Bridge but made just 23 first-team appearances, struggling with frequent loan moves and lengthy injury layoffs.
Rahman’s most challenging moment came in 2019 when he suffered a second ACL injury, which nearly ended his career.
Reflecting on his difficult journey, Rahman shared that the injury left him considering retirement.
“I had a tough time with injuries at Chelsea,” Rahman said.
“When I got that second ACL injury, I thought about quitting. It took me 18 months to come back from the first one, and I felt like maybe it was time to walk away.”
During this dark period, Dr. Paco Biosca, Chelsea’s former medical director, played a pivotal role in Rahman’s recovery.
Rahman credits Dr. Paco for helping him find the mental strength to continue. “I told my family I was quitting,” Rahman recalled.
“But Dr Paco told me he had seen other players come back from such injuries. He promised that if I stayed mentally strong and patient, I could do it too. I slept on it and then I decided I wanted to fight for my career.”
Despite his determination, Rahman struggled to make an impact at Chelsea, spending much of his time away on loan to clubs across Europe. Over the years, he had seven loan spells, but never secured a permanent spot in the Blues’ first team.
Now 30, Rahman is rediscovering his form at PAOK in Greece. After helping the club win the Greek Super League title last season, Rahman has continued to impress, registering six goals and four assists in all competitions. His current campaign has seen him score five goals in 18 appearances, drawing the attention of Premier League clubs.
Rahman’s resilience and continued success in Greece are a testament to his determination and refusal to give up on his career, despite the obstacles he faced during his time at Chelsea.
