Mikel Obi: From Jos to Global Stardom &#8211; The story of Nigeria&#8217;s Finest Midfielder

The midfielder Mikel Obi, one of the biggest misconceptions the average Nigerian football fan had about him was that he was going to step into the shoes of the dazzling dribbler, Jay Jay Okocha.

Oh, Jay Jay Okocha was a delight to watch given his ability to maneuver the ball effortlessly and beat his markers with so much ease and aplomb.

A British Jounalist once described the Bolton Wanderers legend with the phrase: “So good, they had to name him twice.”

But Mikel Obi was a different breed. Even though he showed some signs of being the next”Jay Jay Okocha” while playing for the Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles of Nigeria, he developed into a much more rounded midfielder later in his career.

When writing the narrative of Africa’s contemporary finest and most decorated midfielders, Mikel Obi surely ranks high on the list without any iota of doubt.

Mikel Obi is one of the few Nigerian players that had the rare privilege of developing from the cadet team to the national team and enjoyed a very successful spell.

In addition, Mikel Obi had a colorful career in Europe wining multiple titles with Chelsea under a handful of managers including the legendary Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Do Matteo among others.

Now retired, Mikel Obi has transitioned from being a former footballer to an entrepreneur and a podcast host where he shares his opinion on various football topics.

This post follows Mikel Obi’s journey grom grass to grace.

Mikel Obi: Early Life and Journey to Stardom

John Michael Nchekwube Obinna otherwise known as Mikel Obi John was born to a Nigerian transport businessman Michael Obi in Jos, North central Nigeria. Mikel Obi grew up with his two siblings Patrick Tochukwu Obi and Ebere Obi. Not much is known about his educational background, but he must have been scouted while in high school.

How old is Mikel Obi?

The former Chelsea midfielder is 37 years old as of 2025. He was born on 22 April 1987 in Jos.

Mikel Obi Height

How tall is Mikel Obi? The former Super Eagles defensive midfielder is 6 ft and 2 inch.

Career

Mikel Obi started his career at the age of 12. He was pocked as one of the best talents from 3,000 young players to play in the prestigious Pepsi Football Academy.

He was selected to Play for Nigeria Premier Football League side Plateau United , a popular football club in the country that developed Super Eagles stars like Christian Obodo, Celestine Babayaro, Victor Obinna Nsofor.

An administrative error made Mikel Obi adopt his current name during the preparation for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Finland. He went on to represent the country at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup – the tournament that announced him and the legendary Lionel Messi to the world.

Mikel Obi later went on trial at Ajax Cape Town, a South African side before joining Lyn Football in Oslo, Norway.

Mikel Obi Transfer Saga: Lyn Oslo, Manchester United and Chelsea

The midfielder had been attracting suitors from Europe based on his sterling outing at the cadet World Cup in Finland.

In April 2005, Manchester United announced that they had reached an agreement with Lyn Football to sign Mikel Obi a few days before after the player turned 18.

Manchester United website claimed that they did the deal directly with Mikel and he had signed a four-year contract worth £4m to join the club in January 2006.

Lyn allegedly sent a fax to Mikel’s agent abroad claiming that the teenager no longer needs their services.

Chelsea came into the picture as they raised a counter claim that they had already reached an agreement witt Mikel Obi and his agents before their rivals Manchester United did.

Lyn denied the claim but subsequent reports suggest that Chelsea has made initial arrangements to bring Mikel to England and sign him later.

While the drama was ongoing, Manchester United immediately arranged a press conference where Mikel Obi held the club jersey with number 21 on it.

Under stress: Left, Chelsea star John Mikel Obi, who played this weekend even though his father had been abducted in Nigeria left, with his agent John Shittu — John Mikel Obi and his agent John Shittu

However, Mikel Obi and his agent John Shittu traveled to London after the player received threatening phone calls from an unknown source.

Mikel Obi, after spending nine days at a London hotel revealed that he was pressured into signing the contract with Manchester United without his agent.

Manchester United went on to file a complaint to FIFA on the behavior of Chelsea and Mikel Obi’s agents Rune Hauge and John Shittu.

Unfortunately, FIFA dismissed the complaints as they ruled that it lacked sufficient evidence to file up a case against Chelsea.

Lyn Football later failed a separate complaint to FIFA after Mikel Obi failed to return to the club while still on contract.

FIFA compelled Mikel to return to his parent club Lyn while it make a decusi6on whether or not his contract with Manchester United will be upheld.

Mikel Obi later returned to Lyn after a month delay. He returned to the club in September 2005 after three months of absence.

Chelsea volunteered to resolve the transfer saga between all parties involved instead of waiting for FIFA’s verdict.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Lyn reached an agreement to resolve the future of Mikel Obi in June 2006.

Chelsea agreed to pay Manchester United £12 million with half paid after the the contract has been finalized and the other half in June 2007.

Also, Chelsea agreed to pay Lyn £4 million, half immediately and the other half a year later.

Mikel Obi was granted work permit in July 2006 and Chelsea completed the £16 million deal afterwards.

Chelsea Career

Mikel Obi made his debut for Chelsea in a UEFA Champions League match against Bulgarian club Levski Sofia on September 12, 2006.

The midfielder almost found the back of the net from a ferocious. The goalkeeper parried the ball towards Didier Drogba and the Ivorian legend pounced on the rebound.

Mikel Obi’s early days at Chelsea was marred with disciplinary issues as he was fined on three occasions for coming late to training.

Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel with the Champions League trophy in 2012

His father Michaeal Obi also voiced his concern over his son’s behavior at the club after he was dropped for a month by his then manager Jose Mourinho.

Mikel improved on his punctuality and overall attitude subsequently and he became of one Jose Mourinho’s most important players during his first stint at the club.

He scored his debut goal in Chelsea in their 6–1 FA Cup victory over Macclesfield Town on 6 January 2007.

Mikel Obi won the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013 — Mikel Obi and Victor Moses won the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013

He also impressed under Guus Hiddink in his second spell at the club as well other managers including Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo.

Mikel Obi was instrumental to Chelsea’s back-to-back European success under Roberto Di Matteo. His performance in the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2012 remains one of his most outstanding feats in his career.

He went on to represent Chinese Super League side, Tiajin Teda, Middleborough, Trabzonspor Stoke City, and Kuwait Sports Club after his 11-year career at Stamford Bridge.

Mikel Obi and the Nigerian National Teams

Mikel started his career with the national team at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Finland. He went on to represent the Flying Eagles at the 2005 Under-20 FIFA World Cup in The Netherlands.

He won the Silver Ball as the second-best player at the competition behind Lionel Messi who won the Golden Ball as Nigeria finished second to Argentina.

Mikel Obi with a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016

Mikel Obi made his debut for the Super Eagles on 17 August 2005 against Libya in an international friendly match. He came on as a second half substitute in the 1-0 win.

He stated for the first time at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations group stage match as Nigeria beat Senegal 2-1.

Suspension from the National Team

Mikel Obi was suspended from the national team in 2007. Former Super Eagles coach Berti Vogts dropped him from the team for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger after he failed to attend the team’s previous match against Uganda.

The midfielder cited injury as excuse for his absence. However, because he wasn’t assessed by the team doctors, he was excused from the team.

Mikel Obi for Nigeria against Ghana in 2008 — Mikel Obi for Nigeria in against Ghana 2008

Mikel was eventually suspended by the Nigeria Football Federation after he refused to play for the national Under-23 team.

He eventually tendered an apology to the Federation and was included in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.

The midfielder had a goal and assist in the competition before the Super Eagles lost 2-1 to Ghana in the quarterfinals.

Mikel Obi celebrates Nations Cup trophy with captain of the Super Eagles joseph Yobo in 2013/Getty Images

Mikel was instrumental to Nigeria’s third Africa Cup of Nations title in 2013 and was named in the tournament’s best eleven alongside goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, his then Chelsea teammate Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike and Efe Ambrose.

He represented the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup tournaments in Brazil and Russia respectively before he retired from the national team a year later with a bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Career Achievements

Chelsea

Premier League: 2009–10, 2014–15
FA Cup: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
Football League Cup: 2006–07, 2014–15
FA Community Shield: 2009
UEFA Champions League: 2011–12
UEFA Europa League: 2012–13

Nigeria

Africa Cup of Nations: 2013; third place: 2006, 2010, 2019
Nigeria Olympic
Summer Olympics bronze medalist: 2016

Individual

FIFA World Youth Championship Silver Ball: 2005
CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year: 2005
Chelsea Young Player of the Year: 2007,[131] 2008
CAF Team of the Year: 2005, 2013
Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2013[132]
African Footballer of the Year runner-up: 2013

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Chelsea FC to Make Historic First Visit to Lagos in May

Orders

Member of the Order of the Niger

Mikel Obi Net Worth

The midfielder is one of the richest African footballers as of today. Celebritynetworth.com put Mikel Obi’s net worth at $45 million as of 2024. The former Chelsea midfielder reportedly has investments in real estate and other business ventures.

Mikel Obi Cars

According to online sources, Mikel Obi owns a modest collection of luxury cars. The midfielder drives a Range Rover Sport valued at $60,895, a Rolls Royce worth $120,000, a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class priced at $75,000, and a 2010 Bentley Continental GT that cost him about $180,000.

Relationship Status: Who is Mikel Obi’s wife?

Mikel Obi’s wife is Olga Diyachenko, a Russian model and businesswoman. Olga Dyachenko is the daughter of a Russian billionaire, and they met during Mikel’s time at Chelsea.

Olga Diyachenko revealed that she met Mikel when the former Chelsea midfielder used to stay in the same compound with his parents.

The couple started off as friends after five years of not speaking to each other even though they were neighbors.

Mikel Obi wife Olga Diyanchenko via Instagram

Also, Olga added that they started talking after she dropped off her key in his flat.

Mikel Obi started dating the Russian model after he ended his relationship with Nigerian beauty Queen Sandra Okagbue.

The midfielder kept his relationship with Olga Diyachenko discreet until they shared a picture of their twins on social media.

Mikel Obi and his twin daughters Avia and Mia via Intagram

Mikel and Olga welcomed their two daughters Avia and Mia on September 13, 2015.

Olga Diyachenko is a well-educated person with a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Regan University.

The fashion model has worked with a handful of international brands over the years.

Social Media

Mikel Obi very active on social media and has quite a number of followers. He is most active on Instagram with more than 3 million followers on his page. Olga Dyachenko is also on Instagram with about 43,000 followers.

The Obi One Podcast

Mikel Obi actively engages in various ventures, especially after retiring from football in September 2022. His latest endeavor is the “Obi One Podcast” which he co-hosts with British journalist Chris McHardy. The podcast has over 129,000 subscribers on YouTube, 77,000 followers on Instagram and 34,000 followers on X.

Mikel Obi launched the podcast about 18 months ago in a bid to provide clearer insights on controversial topics in football especially in the Premier League.

Mikel Obi Father’s Kidnap

Kidnappers abducted Mikel’s father on 12 August 2011. The midfielder was told about the incident before Chelsea’s Premier League match against Stoke City.

However, he decided to play the match despite his father’s security situation. On 15 August 2011, Mikel Obi made a passionate appeal for his father’s safe releasefrom the kidnappers den.

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.”

Mikel Obi’s father gained freedom on 22 August 2011, Kano, a Northwest state in Nigeria. Police also arrested his abductors.

Unfortunately, Kidnappers abducted Mikel’s father again on 26 June 2018, a few hours before a 2018 FIFA World Cup match against Argentina in St, Petersburg.

However, he did not tell anyone and went ahead to play the match.

The Enugu State Police recused rescued Michael Obi on 2 July after a gunfight with his abductors.

Mikel Obi: From Jos to Global Stardom – The story of Nigeria’s Finest Midfielder