Mikel makes Stoke City U-turn, joins Al Kuwait SC on one-year deal

Former Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel has announced his move to Kuwaiti giants Al Kuwait SC on a short-term one year deal, leaving English Championship side Stoke City after he spent the 2020/21 season in the Championship with the Potters.

Mikel signed a contract extension for one year with Stoke City in June, but a get-out clause was inserted in the contract, which allowed him to leave the club if a better offer came along. As a result of the financial impact of COVID on the club, they had no option but to mutually terminate the former Super Eagles captain’s contract and let him join his new side.

Mikel played 40 times for the Potters in the 2020/21 season, captaining them on a number of occasions. The 34-year-old was recently made an ambassador by the Nigerian Ministry of Sports. He has followed in the footsteps of former Super Eagles teammate Odion Ighalo by Joining a club in the Middle East. His move comes after spells in the English Championship with Middlesbrough and Stoke City, the Turkish Super Lig with Trabzonspor, and the Chinese league with Tianjin TEDA.