That infamous clause in the contract - Ba could be sold for £7m - has expired.
If anyone wants our star striker they are going to have to pay serious money.
Mind you, if Harry Redlnapp had stayed at Tottenham, things would be a lot different.
It was Redknapp who spilt the beans on the clause in the first place.
The expected offers from clubs from Russia and Turkey did not materialise, and there was a sigh of relief when midnight struck.
The person with an eye on events was none other than Andy Carroll, who now knows his move to Newcastle is just about dead and buried.
Expect the former Toon No 9 to move to Upton Park.