Mikel John Obi
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Mikel in 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Mikel John Obi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | John Michael Nchekwube Obinna | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 22 April 1987 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Jos, Nigeria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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, Stoke City and Kuwait SC.
In a 14-year international career between 2005 and 2019, he played 91 times for Nigeria, scoring six goals. He went to five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments (winning in 2013), two World Cups, and won a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2016.