Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has left Chelsea to join Tianjin TEDA, the Chinese Super League side has announced.
The Nigeria international, who had been heavily linked with a move to Valencia, passed a medical on Thursday before finalising a reported three-year deal with Tianjin who finished 11th in China’s top-flight last season.
Mikel joined Chelsea from Norwegian outfit Lyn in 2006, before going on to win two English Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League during his time at Stamford Bridge.
More recently, the 29-year-old was a member of the Nigeria team which won a bronze medal at last year’s Rio Olympics. He had, however, not appeared for Chelsea this season under new manager Antonio Conte.
Tianjin's signing of Mikel represents a second transfer coup in as many days for the ambitious outfit, following the earlier arrival of Serbia international midfielder Nemanja Gudelj from Dutch giants Ajax.
Photo: AFP