John Obi Mikel leaves Chelsea after 10 years

John Obi Mikel announces Chelsea exit ahead of move to China

JOHN Mikel Obi admits it has ‘truly been an honour’ to play for Chelsea as the Nigerian midfielder penned an open farewell to fans after bringing his 10-year stay at the club to an end.

The 29-year-old departed the club on Thursday after sealing a move to Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin TEDA.

A picture was shared on Chinese website Webo of Mikel shaking hands with a Tianjin club official and holding the club’s shirt as he became the latest Premier League player to move to the far east.

Mikel (centre left) celebrates winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012

Sportsmail broke the news first on Thursday, with the midfielder offered a package worth around £140,000 per week for three years.

In an open letter shared on his Twitter account, Mikel shared memories of his greatest achievements in 10-trophy-laden years at Stamford Bridge.

He wrote: ‘To play in the Premier League, the best league in the world, is every professional player’s ambition. But to play for Chelsea, to become part of the Chelsea family, to work with some of the best managers and players in the world, has truly been an honour.

‘Every achievement I have been part of in my time at Chelsea holds a special memory: my first goal, against Macclesfield in 2007 (even though there were only five more after that!).

‘The nail-biting end of the 2010 season – securing the title on the last day, scoring a record 103 goals in the process, and winning the FA Cup a week later. Didier’s extra time winner against Manchester United in the 2007 FA Cup Final.

MIKEL’S OPEN LETTER

To my Chelsea family,

After ten years, 374 appearances and eleven trophies, it is time to say goodbye.

Where do I begin? I joined Chelsea as a 19-year-old kid from the Norwegian Premier League, making my debut in the Community Shield. I say goodbye as a champion of England, a champion of Europe, and proud captain of my national team.

To play in the Premier League, the best league in the world, is every professional player’s ambition. But to play for Chelsea, to become part of the Chelsea family, to work with some of the best managers and players in the world, has truly been an honour.

Every achievement I have been part of in my time at Chelsea holds a special memory: my first goal, against Macclesfield in 2007 (even though there were only five more after that!). The nail-biting end of the 2010 season – securing the title on the last day, scoring a record 103 goals in the process, and winning the FA Cup a week later. Didier’s extra time winner against Manchester United in the 2007 FA Cup Final. Beating two of our biggest London rivals in League Cup finals. Winning the Europa League in Amsterdam, with one of the last kicks of the game.

Then there was Munich. We were desperate to make up for the disappointment of the 2008 final, but trailing with two minutes to go, against Bayern, in their own stadium, it seemed that once more luck was against us. But that night, with lions on our chest and the fans behind us, we fought. Up popped Didier, the rest is history, and to date we’re still proudly the only team in London with a European Cup.

None of this would have been possible without the wider club’s support. To Mr Abramovich, the club’s staff, coaches, physios, and to the managers I played under at Chelsea, I want to say thank you.

But my biggest thanks must go to the Blues fans. You brought me into the Chelsea family, you sung my name, and were there with us every step of the way. Thanks to your support, on nights like in Munich, you made the impossible possible.

As you will know, I haven’t featured as much this season as I would have liked, and at 29 I still have many years in the game ahead of me. With this in mind, I feel now is the time to seek a new challenge. I’m delighted to be joining Tianjin TEDA in China, at a time that the Chinese Super League is really taking off, and I look forward to helping Tianjin TEDA continue to grow both on and off the pitch in the next few years.

To everyone at Chelea – goodbye, and thank you. You will always be part of who I am, and I wish you the best of luck. I could not be happier to be saying goodbye with the club back where it belongs – top of the league.

Keep the Blue flag flying high!

Mikel John Obi

The Nigeria captain reserved special praise though for Chelsea’s Champions League triumph in 2012.

‘Then there was Munich. We were desperate to make up for the disappointment of the 2008 final, but trailing with two minutes to go, against Bayern, in their own stadium, it seemed that once more luck was against us.

‘But that night, with lions on our chest and the fans behind us, we fought. Up popped Didier, the rest is history, and to date we’re still proudly the only team in London with a European Cup.’

He paid tribute to the club’s fans saying: ‘My biggest thanks must go to the Blues fans. You brought me into the Chelsea family, you sung my name, and were there with us every step of the way. Thanks to your support, on nights like in Munich, you made the impossible possible.’

Mikel’s time in west London started in controversial circumstances after he appeared at a Manchester United press conference and posed in a home shirt with his name on it.

In a statement on the club’s website, Chelsea wished the long-serving midfielder well on his new venture: ‘He leaves with our very best wishes and we thank him for his exceptional service.’