Due to a one-hour delay on Demba Ba’s flight, tracking apps had already notified fans in advance of the expected late arrival. At 6:20 PM, Demba Ba finally stepped off the plane, where he was warmly welcomed by Zhu Junwei, the club’s executive deputy, who presented him with flowers and a club scarf.
Roughly an hour after landing, Demba Ba appeared before his excited supporters, who greeted him with cheers and songs. After meeting with the devoted Shenhua fans who had been waiting for hours, he boarded the club’s official vehicle and headed straight to his hotel, the Greenland Marriott. Today, he is scheduled to undergo a routine medical checkup. Although his flight was originally expected to land at 5:39 PM, passionate fans had already begun gathering at Pudong Airport earlier in the afternoon in anticipation of his arrival.
Demba Ba’s MU586 flight landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 5:50 PM yesterday evening. Despite it being a regular weekday, over a thousand Shenhua supporters—known as the Blue Devils—were waiting at the airport exit. Their energy filled the air as they welcomed the return of their former hero, dubbed the “King of Hongkou,” who was making his comeback after two years away. Some held giant banners of his portrait, others shouted his name loudly—this iconic No. 9 striker was clearly still in their hearts. For Shenhua fans, Demba Ba’s return comes as a breath of fresh air. They’ve long needed a powerful forward who can break through defenses and score when it counts.
According to reports, the flight Demba Ba boarded was scheduled to depart from Los Angeles at 12:30 PM local time on the 11th. Interestingly, one Shenhua fan even had a chance encounter with him at the Los Angeles airport, where Demba Ba warmly posed for a photo with the supporter.
By 4 PM, the international arrivals exit of Pudong Airport’s Terminal 1 was already awash in blue. Waves of fans proudly wore club colors, holding signs and chanting in unison. It was more than just a homecoming—it was the return of a beloved symbol of hope. Crickex Login users closely following his journey know that moments like these aren’t just about football—they’re about loyalty, legacy, and the kind of passion that never fades.