Demba Ba reveals how West Ham locked him in a CAR BOOT to keep 2011 transfer a secret

The Senegal striker was desperate to move to the Premier League from Hoffenheim back in 2011.

With Hammers then embroiled in a relegation battle, bosses at Upton Park were desperate to keep news of Ba’s arrival a secret.

That meant he had to rely on a friend to smuggle him into the training ground to avoid being spotted by any waiting reporters.

Ba told The Athletic: “They said they didn’t want journalists to find out, so I obeyed.

“It wasn’t the biggest boot. It was like ‘boom, boom’, I’m hitting my head at every corner.”

Ba joined West Ham in January 2011 after seeing a move to Stoke fall through when Potters medical staff discovered a problem with his knee.

He notched seven goals in 12 appearances under manager Avram Grant but it wasn’t enough to prevent relegation.

Ba added: “It was a good dressing room but ultimately we didn’t have the necessary quality.”

The now 36-year-old left that summer for Newcastle, who last week became the richest club in football following a Saudi-led takeover.

The Magpies are reportedly keen to appoint Ralf Rangnick as sporting director - the man who worked with Ba as Hoffenheim coach.

And Ba has admitted he hopes to live up to his mentor by becoming a sporting director himself now he has hung up his boots.