Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has joined Stoke City on a short term deal as the club’s fourth signing of the summer.
The club confirmed his signing on Monday, August 17.
Until his move to Stoke, the 33-year-old had been a free agent since leaving Turkish side Trabzonspor by mutual consent in March.
The Nigerian international midfielder joins Morgan Fox, James Chester and Steven Fletcher in checking in at the bet365 Stadium ahead of the 2020/21 Championship season.
Mikel, who won a host of domestic and European honours during a glittering 11-year stay at Chelsea, returns to English football after his time in Turkey.
Stoke manager Michael O’Neill said: “We’re delighted to bring John to the Club. His playing career speaks for itself and underlines his calibre as a player.
“I was really impressed with him when we met for the first time and he outlined what he wants from the next phase of his career.
“We spent four hours talking and he made it clear he wants to get back into the Premier League and finish his career there and hopefully he can do that with Stoke City.”
Announcing his new club on Instagram, Mikel wrote: “New chapter, #letsgothepotters #stokecity.”
Mikel made more than 370 appearances for Chelsea, helping them to land the Premier League title twice, as well as three FA Cups, the Champions League and Europa League.
After a spell with Chinese side Tianjin TEDA, he played for Middlesbrough after joining them on a short-term deal in January 2019, making 19 appearances.
He was capped 91 times for Nigeria, helping the Super Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, before announcing his retirement from international football last summer.
Stoke survived relegation from the Championship with a late fight towards the end of the 2019-20 campaign.
