_(cropped).jpg) Mikel in 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mikel John Obi[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | John Michael Nchekwube Obinna[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 22 April 1987[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Jos, Nigeria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[4][5] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Plateau United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Lyn | 6 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2017 | Chelsea | 249 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Tianjin TEDA | 31 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Middlesbrough | 18 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Trabzonspor | 19 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Stoke City | 39 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Kuwait SC | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 362 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Nigeria Olympic | 6 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2019 | Nigeria | 91 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mikel John Obi MON (born John Michael Nchekwube Obinna; 22 April 1987), also known as John Obi Mikel, is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Mikel began his career with local club Plateau United, before joining Norwegian club Lyn at the age of 17 in 2004. In 2006, he made a controversial transfer to English club Chelsea after Manchester United claimed they had already signed him.
He stayed with Chelsea for 11 years where he won multiple titles, including two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the 2011–12 Champions League. After leaving Chelsea, he had brief stints at Tianjin TEDA, Middlesbrough, Trabzonspor and Stoke City.
In a 14-year international career between 2005 and 2019, he played 91 times for Nigeria, scoring six goals.
- ^ Olewe, Dickens; Zane, Damian (2 August 2016). "Africa highlights: Nigeria secret police budget probe, Uganda 'anti-porn machine to arrive soon'". BBC News. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "John Obi Mikel Legally Changes Name to Mikel John Obi After Nigerian FA Mistake". Bleacher Report. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Mikel Obi". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Chelsea FC Player Profile". Premier League. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ^ "Chelsea FC profile". Chelsea FC. 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 15 July 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.