Mikel completes switch to Kuwaiti Premier League club Al Kuwait SC
Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has completed a switch from Stoke City to Kuwaiti Premier League club Al Kuwait SC.
The Brigadiers confirmed that Mikel Obi has penned a one-year deal for the 2021/2022 season.
The Nigerian midfielder’s arrival comes as reinforcement for Al Kuwait, who finished third in the Premier League last season behind Al-Qadsia and leaders Al-Arabi.
Mikel won’t be the only African player at the Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, as he joins Morocco’s El-Mehdi Barrahma, Tunisia duo Ahmed Akaichi and Rami Bedoui, and Mali’s Abdulwahid Sissoko in the Brigadiers’ line-up.
Mikel Obi leaves Stoke City, who recently activated the contract extension option to keep him for one more campaign, following his impressive performances in the English second division last term.
The 34-year-old was one of the standout players in Michael O’Neill’s team in the 2020-21 season with 39 league appearances under his belt as they finished 14th in the table.
Mikel joined Stoke from Turkish club Trabzonspor having previously spent 11 years with Chelsea and half a season at Middlesbrough.
Boss Michael O’Neill said there was an agreement that he could leave for a “significant overseas opportunity”.
He added: “John is a fantastic professional and was a huge presence for us last season both on and off the field, particularly with the young players in our first-team squad.
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Mikel made 249 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, which ended when he left Stamford Bridge in 2017.
He won the Champions League and Europa League, two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups and the League Cup during his time with the London club.
Mikel won 89 caps for Nigeria, played in two World Cups and helped the Super Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, before announcing his retirement from international football two years ago.