In Demba Ba, Chelsea are signing a former Gillingham reject! The incoming striker from Newcastle United has revealed how he was rejected by a host of lower league clubs when first trying to make it in England.

A friend from France, Gauthier Diafutua, was playing for Watford at the time and he managed to convince the club to take a look at Ba.

He was also invited for a week-long trial at Barnsley, only to be rejected.

"I went to Barnsley and stayed in a fantastic hotel. The club paid. The trial didn't work out. We were there a week but it was a bit chaotic," Ba told The Sun.

"We wanted to check out but then... trouble again. The reception said the club had paid for the hotel but that we had to pay for the food.

"We had no money, we didn't know what to do. We contacted an agent who was able to send us some money to pay the £500 bill. In those days, we were eating only crisps and drinking water."

Ba then enjoyed a trial at Watford and told his official website he expected to be offered a contract, only for those hopes to disappear when manager Ray Lewington lost his job.

Rejections from Swansea and Gillingham convinced Ba to return to France, where he signed for fourth division side Rouen.