Former Hammer Demba Ba has old his Instagram followers that he would have liked to stay a West Ham player for longer.

Ba, now in China playing for Shanghai Shenhua posted on social media

 “First EPL club. As a hammer. Too short but very nice time tho,” 

After a failed medical with Stoke City, Ba was sold to West Ham for a fee believed to be £560,000 based on appearances. He signed a three-year contract  with the Hammers in January 2011, on a pay as you play basis due to knee problems found in the Stoke medical. 

Ba’s Premier League debut came on 6th February 2011, as a 75th minute substitute for Robbie Keane against Birmingham. His first goals followed six days later during his full debut, scoring twice in a 3–3 draw against West Brom. Despite finishing as their top scorer for the season with seven from twelve games including 2 in the last game, Ba’s stay with West Ham proved to be short after  West Ham were relegated following a 3–2 loss away to Wigan, he invoked a release clause in his contract allowing him to leave for free.  He signed for Newcastle, later joining Chelsea for a reported £7m. He later joined Bilic’s team Besiktas for £4.2m