Figure timeline
Mikel John Obi, also known as John Obi Mikel, is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
sports · Nigerian association football player · association football player · also Mikel John Obi, Juan Obi Mikel, Jon Obi Mikel, Obi
Born 22 April 1987 · Q166984
61 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
6 photos · 1 audio
Listen
LL-Q33578 (ibo)-Goodymeraj-Mikel John Obi
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
“I am happy with this partnership and I promise to do my best to encourage and inspire the youths towards national development, not just in football but in other sports like Basketball, Boxing among others.”
Public attention spiked: 5,626 Wikipedia readers in one day, 5× the usual 1,117, with 0 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Public attention spiked: 3,530 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.2× the usual 1,117, with 0 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Public attention spiked: 3,945 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.5× the usual 1,117, with 0 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Public attention spiked: 3,491 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.1× the usual 1,117, with 0 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The Championship is like war. Every game is tough and horrible. The Premier League is easier and people play easy.”
Yahoo! Sports: Exclusive: Mikel John Obi questions Liam Delap deal - and reveals who Chelsea should have signed instead
Tribal Football: Mikel John Obi believes Chelsea's signing of Delap may have been a huge mistake
Played for Kuwait SC (2021–2021) — 0 appearances, 0 goals.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Played for Stoke City F.C. (2020–2021) — 39 appearances, 0 goals.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Third place: Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria (2019).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Joined Middlesbrough in 2019.
Joined Trabzonspor in 2019.
Played for Trabzonspor (2019–2020) — 19 appearances, 0 goals.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Played for Middlesbrough F.C. (2019–2019) — 18 appearances, 1 goals.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
On 26 June 2018, a few hours before a World Cup match, Mikel was informed of another kidnapping of Michael Obi, but did not tell any of his team members.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Joined Tianjin Teda in 2017.
Played for Tianjin Jinmen Tiger F.C. (2017–2018) — 31 appearances, 3 goals.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: Summer Olympics bronze medalist with Nigeria Olympic (2016).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: Premier League with Chelsea (2014–15).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: Football League Cup with Chelsea (2014–15).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria (2013).
Runner-up: African Footballer of the Year (2013).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: UEFA Europa League with Chelsea (2012–13).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria (2013).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won award: CAF Team of the Year (2013).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won award: Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament (2013).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: FA Cup with Chelsea (2011–12).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: UEFA Champions League with Chelsea (2011–12).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
He told Sky Sports News, "I've always tried to help the country, this is the time for the country to help me, whoever knows where my dad is should please contact me." Michael Obi was found alive on 22 August 2011, in the Nigerian city of Kano.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
On 15 August 2011, Mikel made an impassioned plea for his father's safe return.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
On 12 August 2011, Mikel's father, Michael Obi, was the victim of a suspected kidnapping in Nigeria.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won the English FA Cup with Chelsea (2009-2010).
Third place: Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria (2010).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: Premier League with Chelsea (2009–10).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: FA Cup with Chelsea (2009–10).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won the English FA Community Shield with Chelsea (2009).
Won the English FA Cup with Chelsea (2008-2009).
Won: FA Cup with Chelsea (2008–09).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: FA Community Shield with Chelsea (2009).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won award: Chelsea Young Player of the Year (2008).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won the English FA Cup with Chelsea (2006-2007).
Won award: Chelsea Young Player of the Year (2007).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: Football League Cup with Chelsea (2006–07).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: FA Cup with Chelsea (2006–07).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Mikel was sent off in injury time (having come on as a substitute) after clashing with Kolo Touré
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Mikel was suspended from all Nigerian national teams after manager Berti Vogts dropped him from the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger for failing to attend their previous match against Uganda
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Third place: Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria (2006).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Joined Chelsea in 2006.
Played for Chelsea F.C. (2006–2017) — 249 appearances, 1 goals.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Played for Nigeria men's national football team (2006–2019) — 91 appearances, 6 goals.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Made a controversial transfer to English club Chelsea after Manchester United claimed they had already signed him
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
He was most commonly referred to as "John Obi Mikel" upon his arrival at Chelsea, but on 31 July 2006, he stated that he prefers to be called Mikel John Obi instead, and he officially changed his name to Mikel John Obi in 2016.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won award: CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year (2005).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won award: CAF Team of the Year (2005).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won: FIFA World Youth Championship silver medalist with Nigeria U20 (2005).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Won award: FIFA World Youth Championship Silver Ball (2005).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Played for Nigeria national under-20 football team (2005–2005).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Played for Lyn 1896 FK (2004–2006) — 6 appearances, 1 goals.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Joined Lyn 1896 in 2004.
Born 1987-04-22.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Connections