John Obi Mikel

Mikel John Obi (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.

Further substance was added to this claim after it was revealed that the player had impressed Chelsea manager José Mourinho while training with the club's first-team squad during the summer of 2004.

Mikel expressed his delight at joining United in a hastily arranged press conference, where he was pictured holding up a Manchester United shirt bearing the squad number 21.

Following his signing of the contract to join United, there were claims from Norway that he had received a number of threatening phone calls from unknown sources.

Mikel was assigned a security guard and moved to a safe hotel.

In a 14-year international career between 2005 and 2019, he played 91 times for Nigeria, scoring six goals.

Mikel was born in Jos, Plateau State, the son of Michael Obi, who runs an inter-state transport company in Jos.

His father was a member of the Igbo ethnic group.

Mikel started his football career at the age of 12 when picked as a talented footballer from over 3,000 young talents to play in Pepsi Football Academy, a team that at the time was well known for travelling across Nigeria scouting young footballers with the potential to play professionally.

Obi stood out to scouts and was later picked to play for top-flight club Plateau United, a side that had previously developed stars Celestine Babayaro, Victor Obinna and Chris Obodo, among others, that went on to success in European leagues. Later known as John Obi Mikel, he made headlines for his country at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships held in Finland.

Following the tournament, he went on to a trial at South Africa club Ajax Cape Town, ultimately joining Oslo-based club Lyn Fotball in Norway.

On 29 April 2005, a few days after Mikel turned 18, Premier League club Manchester United announced that they had struck a deal with Lyn to sign the player.

United's website also claimed that they had done a deal directly with the teenager and that he had signed a contract to join them.

Mikel's agents were bypassed as the club persuaded the youngster to sign a four-year contract without representation.

Lyn allegedly sent a fax to his agents abroad, claiming their services were no longer required by Mikel.

On 11 May 2005, however, the midfielder went missing during a Norwegian Cup game against Klemetsrud; he had not been selected for the match but had been watching from the stands.

Whilst the player was believed to have left with one of his agents, John Shittu, who had by now flown in to meet Mikel, his disappearance sparked massive media coverage in Norway and also provoked a police enquiry after Lyn Director Morgan Andersen made claims in the Norwegian media that Mikel had been "kidnapped".

These claims were later repeated by Manchester United's assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, who accused Chelsea of being involved in the alleged "kidnapping".

It subsequently emerged that Mikel had travelled to London with his agent John Shittu, who was working for Jerome Anderson's SEM group.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson considered travelling to Oslo to visit Mikel, but decided against this after Mikel was reported to have left the country.

Staying in a London hotel and some nine days after disappearing, Mikel stated on Sky Sports News that he had been pressured into signing the contract with United without his agent present, claims rebuffed by both Manchester United and Lyn.

Mikel told the British media that Chelsea were the club he genuinely wanted to sign for.

In response to these events, United made an official complaint to FIFA about the behaviour of both Chelsea and the player's agents, Shittu and Rune Hauge, already infamous for his role in the George Graham bungs scandal.

FIFA dismissed these claims in August 2005, stating there was insufficient evidence to bring a case against Chelsea.

Following the tournament, Mikel failed to return to Lyn, whereupon the club subsequently lodged a complaint with FIFA.

On 12 August, FIFA ruled that Mikel should return to Lyn to fulfil the remainder of his contract with the club, whilst they would decide at a later date whether the contract he signed with United should be upheld or cancelled.

After a delay of over a month, Mikel complied with the FIFA decision and returned to Lyn in early September 2005 after a three-month absence.

Rather than leaving FIFA to determine the validity of the contract signed with Manchester United, Chelsea intervened by volunteering to settle the transfer saga through negotiation with Lyn and Manchester United.

In 2006, he made a controversial transfer to English club Chelsea after Manchester United claimed they had already signed him.

Reports said the deal was initially worth £4 million, and would see the player arrive at Old Trafford in January 2006.

Manchester United's rival Premier League club, Chelsea, later issued a counter-claim suggesting that they already had an agreement with Mikel and his agents, but Lyn denied this claim.

However, subsequent reports indicated that Chelsea claimed to have been involved in arranging the player's original move to Europe with a view to signing him at a later date.

On 2 June 2006, Chelsea, Manchester United and Lyn reached a settlement to resolve the future of the player.

Mikel's registration was to be transferred from Lyn to Chelsea; Manchester United agreed to terminate their option agreement with Mikel.

On 19 July, Chelsea were granted a work permit for Mikel after they completed the £16 million signing in June 2006.

Under the terms of this agreement, Chelsea agreed to pay United £12 million, half paid upon the finalization of the contract and the other half in June 2007, and Lyn £4 million, half payable immediately and half in June 2007.

As a result of this settlement, all claims in this matter were withdrawn.

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.