John Obi Mikel

At 36 years old, John Obi Mikel has this physical status:

Obi Mikel, John Mikel Obi, Mikel Obi, or Mikel John Obi, John Michael Obinna (born 22 April 1987) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Turkish club Trabzonspor.

Born in Jos, he began his career with local club Plateau United before joining Norwegian club Lyn at the age of 17.

After Manchester United announced that they had already signed him in 2006, he made a contentious move to Chelsea.

He was with Chelsea for 11 years before joining Tianjin TEDA in 2017.

After two years in China, he returned to England on a short-term contract with Middlesbrough before joining Trabzonspor in July 2019.

He played 88 times for Nigeria, scoring six goals, during his 14-year international career between 2005 and 2019.

Early life

Mikel was born in Jos, Plateau State, the son of Michael Obi, who operates an inter-state transportation company in Jos. His father was a member of the Igbo ethnic group.

Personal life

The Nigerian Football Association (NFA) mistakenly submitted "Michael" for the tournament in Finland during preparations for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship. He decided to keep the new name, saying that it had a "unique ring to it." On his arrival at Chelsea, he was most commonly identified as "John Obi Mikel," but he later revealed that he prefers to be named Mikel John Obi, and he officially changed his name to Mikel John Obi on July 31, 2006.

The Minister of Youth Sports Development, Dare's Sunday Dare, announced Mike Obi as the Youth Ambassador to Nigeria on June 1821.

Michael Obi, Mikel's father, was convicted of a alleged kidnapping in Nigeria on August 12th. Mikel was advised before Chelsea's match against Stoke City two days later but despite his fears for his father's wellbeing, he decided to play. Mikel filed an eloquent appeal for his father's safe return on August 15th. "I've always tried to help the country, and now is the time for the world to help me," Trump told Sky Sports News, "and whoever knows where my dad is should please call me." Michael Obi was discovered alive in Kano, Nigeria's city. His abductors were thought to be in police detention, according to reports. Mikel was aware of another abduction of Michael Obi on June 26, 2018, but did not notify any of his coworkers, just a few hours before a World Cup match. Michael Obi was rescued by the Enugu State Police on July 2nd after a gun battle, according to Enugu State Police.

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Club career

Mikel began his football career at the age of 12, being selected as a top young talent from over 3,000 youngsters to play in Pepsi Football Academy, a club that at the time was known for travelling across Nigeria scouting young footballers with the potential to play professionally.

Obi stood out to scouts and was eventually selected to play for Plateau United, a team that had previously developed stars Celestine Babayaro, Victor Obinna, and Chris Obodo, among others, who went on to be successful in European leagues. At the FIFA Under-17 World Championships held in Finland, John Obi Mikel, later known as John Obi Mikel, made news for his country. Following the tournament, he began a trial at Ajax Cape Town, South Africa, before joining Oslo-based club Lyn Fotball in Norway.

Manchester United's manager, Mikel, announced on Sunday that they had reached an agreement with Lyn to sign the player a few days after turning 18 is a birthday. United's website also stated that they had done a deal directly with the adolescent and that he had signed a contract to join them. Mikel's agents were refused access after the club told the youngster that he should sign a four-year deal without representation. Lyn is accused of sending a fax to his overseas employees, who said that their services were no longer needed by Mikel. According to reports, the player was worth £4 million at the start of the season and would see him play in January 2006.

Chelsea, Manchester United's rival Premier League club, later released a counter-claim claiming that they already had an agreement with Mikel and his agents, but Lyn denied this assertion. However, subsequent reports indicated that Chelsea may have been complicit in arranging the player's removal to Europe in the hopes of releasing him later today. Since it was revealed that the player had impressed Chelsea manager José Mourinho while training with the club's first-team squad in the summer of 2004, more substance was added to this assertion.

Mikel expressed his delight at being in a hastily scheduled press conference, where he was seen wearing a Manchester United shirt sporting the squad number 21. Following his move to United, there were allegations from Norway that he had received a number of threatening phone calls from unknown sources. Mikel was given a security guard and moved to a safe hotel. However, the midfielder went missing during a Norwegian Cup match against Klemetsrud on May 11, 2005; he had not been selected for the game but had been watching from the stands. Although the player was supposed to have been left with one of his agents, John Shittu, who had already flown in to speak with Mikel, sparking a police probe, after Lyn Director Morgan Andersen announced in Norwegian media that Mikel had been "kidnapped." These allegations were later reiterated by Manchester United's assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, who accused Chelsea of being complicit in the suspected "kidnapping" scandal.

Mikel's agent John Shittu, who was working for Jerome Anderson's SEM team, had travelled to London later this year. Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United, considered going to Mikel but decided against it after Mikel was confirmed to have left the country. Mikel, who was staying in a London hotel and nine days after disappearing, revealed on Sky Sports News that he had been pressured into signing the deal with United without his representative present, with accusations of both Manchester United and Lyn. Chelsea, Mikel told the British media, was the club he longed to sign for. United's mother, Shittu and Rune Hauge, are both Chelsea and player's agents, who are both well-known for their involvement in the George Graham bungs scandal. In August 2005, FIFA denied these allegations, arguing that there were insufficient reasons to bring a lawsuit against Chelsea.

Mikel did not return to Lyn after the tournament, whereupon the club lodged a FIFA lawsuit. FIFA ruled on August 12th that Mikel should return to Lyn to finish the remainder of his deal, although it will determine whether the deal, which he agreed to, should be upheld or cancelled at a later date. After a three-month absence, Mikel completed the FIFA decision and returned to Lyn in early September 2005.

Chelsea intervened rather than leaving FIFA to decide the validity of the Manchester United contract, rather than leaving FIFA to decide the truth of the transfer case by securing the transfer case by enforcing discussions with Lyn and Manchester United.

Chelsea, Manchester United, and Lyn reached an agreement on June 2nd, 2006, to discuss the player's future. Mikel's registration was supposed to be transferred from Lyn to Chelsea; Manchester United agreed to end their option contract with Mikel. Chelsea has agreed to pay United £12 million, half on the finalization of the deal and the other half in June 2007, and Lyn £4 million, half payable immediately and half in June 2007. All charges in this case were dismissed as a result of the settlement. Chelsea received a work permit for Mikel on July 19th, after they completed the £16 million agreement in June 2006.

Morgan Andersen, the company's former prosecutor of falsing official records, was found guilty of fraud and making false representations, and he was sentenced to one-year in Oslo. He was also ordered to pay 10,000 kroner (£1,944) in fees. Following the verdict, Chelsea filed a £16 million lawsuit against Lyn and Andersen, arguing that the recently reached deal was not binding because "the transfer was based on a fraudulent misrepresentation that has now been established by a court of law." This allegation was later decided out of court.

Mikel made his first appearance for Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League against Bulgarian club Levski Sofia on September 12th, a great shot that the goalkeeper failed to save and Didier Drogba pounced on the rebound. Mikel's result in the game has received a lot of praise. Mikel was fined by Chelsea on three separate occasions for arriving late to training after being sent home in a match against Reading on October 14, 2006.

José Mourinho, Chelsea's president at the time, was reported to have serious doubts regarding his life outside of Stamford Bridge, and the club was considering offloading the player. Mikel was suspended for more than a month after his father, Michael, voiced his dissatisfaction with his son's behavior. Mikel was given a recall for Chelsea's Champions League group stage away game against Werder Bremen on November 23, 2006, after improved punctuality and showings at training sessions. In Chelsea's 6–1 FA Cup victory over Macclesfield Town on January 6, 2007, he scored his first goal for the club. In the following round of the tournament, he scored against Nottingham Forest. Mikel was suspended in injury time after Chelsea's victory in the League Cup final in 2007, having come on as a replacement), after clashing with Kolo Touré. The incident was followed by a massive fracas in which Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor of Arsenal were sent off, Cesc Fàbregas and Frank Lampard were suspended, Mourinho and Arsène Wenger were suspended, and Mourinho and Arsène Wenger were injured in an altercation on the pitch.

Mourinho used Mikel as a starter in a key games against Valencia, the Champions League semi-finals against Liverpool, and also the victorious 2007 FA Cup Final against Manchester United, where he played well. Mikel's height and awesome presence, as well as good ball control and an unusually wide range of passing, make it possible for him not only to frustrate attacking targets but also to spread the word effectively. Following his move to Paris Saint-Germain, Mikel supplanted French midfielder Claude Makélélé in the lineup.

Referee Mike Dean suspended Mikel for the third time in his career in September 2007, after he was suspended for a tackle on Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Chelsea appealed against the red card, but the three-match suspension was upheld.

In the semi-finals of the League Cup against Everton for a challenge on Phil Neville, Mikel was also sent off. Despite this, he came back a strong start to cap off what has been a fruitful first two seasons at Chelsea.

Claude Makélélé, a veteran defensive midfielder, moved to French club Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2008, leaving the defensive midfield position open. Mikel saw a lot of playing time in the 2008-2009 season due to an injury to Michael Essien. Mikel did an excellent job in the role during this time of increased intrigue. Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari lauded his ever-improving game, but the team's importance was under underscored when he gave the free kick to equalize against Manchester United. He did so well in 2008-09 that he was nominated for the club player and young player of the season. Mikel was charged with inebriated driving just hours before his FA Cup match against Ipswich Town on January 24th, 2009 – Mikel was not allowed to participate in the game because he was serving a suspension. Despite all the drama on July 22, Mikel signed a new five-year deal with Chelsea.

Chelsea beat Cardiff City 4–1 in the FA Cup fifth round on February 13, 2010, with Mikel's long ball for Didier Drogba to latch onto and fire past goalkeeper David Marshall. In a 5–0 victory over FA Cup winners and relegated side Portsmouth on March 24, Mikel gave Chelsea another boost, reducing United's lead at the top of the table to a point. Chelsea's 7–1 demolition of Aston Villa three days later as Chelsea maintained speed in the championship chase with Manchester United. Mikel played the full ninety minutes. Chelsea beat United in the Premier League for the second time in their next Premier League match against United, as Mikel excelled as a marshall in midfield, defeating Chelsea 2–1 at Old Trafford, thanks to goals from Joe Cole and Drogba.

Mikel continued to play with a calm demeanor in his defensive midfield role under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, totaling 35 appearances for the Blues. He received Premier League and FA Cup winner's medals as part of Chelsea's first-ever league-cup double winning team in May 2010.

Mikel and Chelsea both started the 2010–11 Premier League season by playing solid defense and adding deadly finishing. Chelsea beat West Bromwich Albion 6–0 on August 14th and beat Stoke City 2–0 on 28 August, with Mikel playing the full 90 and helping keep three clean-sheets in the first three games.

Since teammate Michael Essien spent the majority of the season on the sideline with knee injuries, Mikel was the most favored option in defensive midfield. In the second half of the season, the club was forced to play new signing Ramires more often. As Chelsea's second place finisher in second place, nine points behind champions Manchester United, Mikel appeared in 28 Premier League campaigns for Chelsea. Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti was fired by the club after the disappointment of not winning a trophy.

Mikel's father was kidnapped in Nigeria on August 10th; despite this, Mikel's father was released in his home country; despite this, Mikel's debut against Stoke City at Britannia Stadium started on August 10th. In Chelsea's first game under new coach André Villas-Boas' first game in charge, Mikel came close to scoring his first Premier League goal in an exciting match.

Mikel continued playing time as a result of Essien's long-term knee injury, but Oriol Romeu lost his position at Christmas time to a new signing. Villas-Boas was fired by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich after a string of disappointing results, including a dramatic 3–1 loss to Napoli in the Champions League first leg and a 1–0 loss to West Brom. Mikel was an ineffective substitute for the Blues in both of these matches. Mikel played in 16 of the club's last 20 games and started 14 of them, demonstrating some of his best football for the club following the addition of former Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo as interim head coach, and began playing some of his best football for the club.

Mikel played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea's 2–1 victory over Liverpool in the 2012 FA Cup Final on May 5, 2012, receiving a yellow card in the 36th minute. Mikel appeared in 22 league games, starting 15 of them, as well as playing in eight fixtures leading up to the team's 2012 UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

Mikel played the full 120 minutes in Munich's final on May 19th as the teams played out a 1–1 draw. Chelsea was battling a tough defensive battle, and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp praised Mikel for his "impressive play in him" as Chelsea defeated Chelsea in a 4–3 victory in the penalty shootout, with "it was putting out fires everywhere." Mikel said it was the "best night of our lives" after his appearance. Despite finishing in sixth place, Chelsea's strong results in the final stages of the season and his impressive show in Munich helped Chelsea secure Champions League football next season, knocking Tottenham opponents Tottenham into the UEFA Europa League.

Mikel appeared in all of Chelsea's first five games of the new 2012–13 Premier League season, as well as the Community Shield against Manchester City and the Super Cup against Atlético Madrid. Mikel and his former Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba were selected on the shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year in November.

The Football Association (FA) charged Mikel with assault on November 22, 2012. During a 3–2 loss to Manchester United, he was banned from three games and fined £60,000 for criticizing referee Mark Clattenburg.

Mikel signed a contract extension with Chelsea on December 5, 2012, extending his stay at the club until 2017.

In a 2–0 victory over Fulham on September 21, Mikel scored his first-ever Premier League goal. In Chelsea's third round match with Derby County on January 5, 2014, he scored his second goal of the season, winning by a narrow 2–0 victory. On February 3rd, he made his 200th Premier League appearance for Chelsea, starting as a late replacement in a 1–0 away win at Manchester City.

Diego Costa's second goal was scored on August 30th, 2014, after intercepting Muhamed Bei's backheel pass. Chelsea beat Everton 6–3 at Goodison Park, defeating Everton 6–3. In a 3–1 win over Stamford Bridge in the 2014–15 Champions League, Mikel scored a rare goal against Sporting CP on December 10th.

Mikel played for Chelsea against Watford on Boxing Day 2015, the first game of Guus Hiddink's second stint in charge. Chelsea then met Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16. Mikel pleaded guilty even outside the 18-yard box. Zlatan Ibrahimovi, a PSG forward, deflected Mikel, who was part of the wall, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Mikel was credited with a stoppage time corner kick just a few minutes later, but only a few minutes later. Mikel had to play center-back in multiple games due to John Terry's and Gary Cahill's injuries.

The club would not be renewing his deal after the season ended on November 4, 2016.

Tianjin TEDA, a Chinese club, had signed Mikel on a free transfer on January 6, 2017. He scored his second league goal for Tianjin on April 14 and his first goal of the season against Guangzhou R&F. In November 2018, Tianjin TEDA announced in November 2018 that he had left Tianjin TEDA at the end of the 2018 Chinese Super League season.

Mikel joined Middlesbrough in the 2019 winter transfer window after two years in China. Since leaving Tianjin TEDA, the 31-year-old was a free agent. Mikel made 19 appearances for Boro, scoring once against Rotherham United on May 5, 2019, when the team barely missed out on a play-off spot finishing seventh. At the end of the 2018–19 season, he was released by Middlesbrough.

Mikel joined Trabzonspor on a two-year deal with the possibility of a third year.

Mikel had left Trabzonspor by mutual consent on March 17, days after expressing his doubts about the Turkish Super Lig's activity in the global coronavirus pandemic.

Mikel began his playing days with Stoke City in the EFL Championship format on August 17, 2020. He made his Stoke debut on September 13, 2020 at Millwall in a 0–0 draw. Mikel was a key member of the team from 2010-21, making 41 appearances as Stoke finished in a mid-table finish at 14th, under Michael O'Neill. At the end of the season, O'Neill said that he wants Mikel to stay at Stoke for another year.

Mikel dropped his Stoke job offer on July 1st 2021 and moved to Kuwait SC.

The Kuwait SC's deal came to an end on November 4th, 2021, only four months after joining the team. Mikel resigned from professional football at the age of 35 on September 27, 2022.

International career

As the Africans finished runners-up to Argentina, Mikel represented the Nigeria under-20 team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and claimed the Silver Ball for the second-best player at the tournament (behind Lionel Messi).

In a 1–0 friendly win over Libya, he made his Nigerian senior team debut on August 17th, 2005, when he came on as a second-half replacement. Before being selected in the squad for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, he did not play for the national team again. Mikel was an ineffective replacement in Nigeria's first group game against Ghana. However, he was drafted early in the second game against Zimbabwe early in the second half. Within ten minutes of launching the game, he had both the corner that resulted in Christian Obodo's game-winning goal and scored Nigeria's second goal. In Nigeria's last group game, a 2–1 win over Senegal, he got off to a good start.

Mikel was suspended from all Nigerian national teams after coach Berti Vogts dropped him from the squad against Niger for failing to attend their first match against Uganda. Mikel cited an accident, but he was dismissed because he did not attend an independent check by Nigerian officials. The Nigerian football Federation suspended him due to his inability to play for the Nigerian under-23 team. Since apologizing, he was named in the national squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. In a game against Benin that saw Nigeria defeated them 2–1 in the quarter-finals, he scored one goal and registered one assist.

Mikel had been called up to the under-23 squad in the run-up to the team's last Olympic qualifier on March 26, 2008, and had to win in order to qualify. His failure to turn up for any of the qualifiers brought up some controversies for the U23 team coach Samson Siasia, who was booted from the Olympic squad amid a lot of commotion from the media.

Mikel was ruled out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa due to injury on June 5th. Since being hospitalized in May, Mikel had been struggling with a knee injury, but there were also reports that an ankle injury was to blame for Mikel's departure.

Mikel was a key player for Nigeria as they went on to win their third continental title at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. He was named by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the tournament's squad, alongside teammates Vincent Enyeama, Efe Ambrose, Victor Moses, and Emmanuel Emenike.

Mikel made his FIFA World Cup debut at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, receiving a man of the match award in the Super Eagles' opening game against Iran. For the first time since 1998, he helped the team make it to the knockout stage.

He was chosen by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics and was later named captain of the Olympic team. Mikel scored his first Olympic goal against Denmark on August 13 in a 2–0 victory over Denmark, advancing to the semi-finals. Nigeria advanced to the bronze medal match against Honduras after losing 2–0 to Germany. Nigeria defeated Honduras 3–2 on August 20, Mikel helped the country win by a score of 3–2. Nigeria became the first nation to win all three medals at the Olympic Games, with the 1996 team winning the gold and the 2008 team winning the silver.

Mikel scored a goal and aided his Chelsea teammate Victor Moses in a 3-1 victory in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Algeria.

Mikel said in July 2019 that the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will be Nigeria's last tournament for the country. He resigned at the end of the tournament, in which Nigeria came third.

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