John Mikel Obi joins Championship side Stoke City (photos)

 

John Mikel Obi has joined Stoke City after reportedly signing a one-year deal with the Championship side. The ex-Nigerian international, 33, who became a free agent after leaving Turkish side Trabzonspor by mutual consent back in March, completed his move to the club on Monday afternoon.  After sealing the deal, Stoke boss Michael O'Neill said: "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."
The midfielder, who made 249 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in an 11-year spell, won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, the Champions League, and Europa League. He also had a two-year spell at Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda, before joining Championship club Middlesbrough for a brief stint.
 

Mikel also won 89 caps for Nigeria, representing his country in the U17, U20 and U23. He partcipated in two World Cups tournaments and helped the Super Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, before announcing his retirement from international football last summer.