Papiss Demba Cissé has become the latest addition to the ever-growing number of African soccer stars joining the English Premier League.
The 26-year-old joins fellow Senegalese international Dem-ba Ba to form a lethal paring up front for Newcastle United after signing a contract that will keep him on Tyneside with the Magpies for the next five-and-a-half years.
The prolific striker was given time away from the African Cup of Nations to put pen to paper but a disastrous tournament for Senegal ensured he was back in time to score on his debut against Aston Villa on 5 February.
Cissé’s arrival at his new club brought immediate pressure when he was handed the number nine shirt, made famous by strikers such as Alan Shearer, Andy Cole and Geordie idol ‘Wor Jackie’ Milburn. “I will treat it with respect and I hope to do my very best in this shirt,” he said.
Cissé began his career at AS Douanes in Dakar, his birthplace, before moving to FC Metz in the summer of 2005. While signed there he also had spells on loan with AS Cherbourg and LB Chateauroux.
SC Freiburg paid €1.6m for the rising star which took him from France to the Bundesliga in December 2009. With just half a season remaining, he still managed to score six goals in only 16 appearances. Over the next two years he went on to make a total of 65 appearances for the German side, scoring 37 goals along the way.
A proud achievement came during the 2010-11 campaign, when Cissé became the highest scoring African player in a single season with 22 goals.
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is delighted to eventually get his man after admitting Cissé has been a target for the club for some time now.
“Ever since Andy Carroll left, Papiss was my first choice in the specific role he has at the end of the play, ” he said. “He is a finisher with an already-established CV in the Bundesliga… Unfortunately he was out of reach financially for us in the summer, but it recently became apparent that Derek Llambias and Lee Charnley could do the deal in this window.”
Looking toward the future, Cissé said: “It is an honour to play for such a big club and I am looking forward to it.
“I am a goalscorer, and that is the thing which gives me the most pleasure. But it is also important that I help my team-mates and bring something to the team.”
