Demba Ba remains at Newcastle United after deadline passes

Senegal international striker Demba Ba has remained a Newcastle player after the deadline to activate a release clause in his contract passed.

The 27-year-old Senegal international had repeatedly expressed his desire to remain on Tyneside and manager Alan Pardew was confident of retaining his services.

But there had been speculation over Ba's future before the 31 July cut-off.

It is understood the clause would have been triggered at £7.5m.

Ba finished his first season at Newcastle as the club's leading scorer with 16 goals, three ahead of compatriot Papiss Cisse, who proved a sensation following his January arrival from Freiburg.

All but one of Ba's goals came before he headed off on Africa Cup of Nations duty at the turn of the year.
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