Chelsea, Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel open to joining MLS

John Obi Mikel celebrates for Nigeria

Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel says he may one day join former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard in Major League Soccer.


The 29-year-old central midfielder, who has been with Chelsea since 2006, told Goal that he will talk to other clubs in January if he hasn’t yet been offered a new deal by the English Premier League giants.


“I am happy that [Lampard] is back to his best, doing what he loves to do and, one day, who knows, I may go over there and play against him, or play with him,” Mikel told Goal.


Mikel has yet to see the field in any of Chelsea’s seven matches across all competitions this year. The longtime Nigerian international has made 354 career appearances for Chelsea in EPL and cup competitions and has four goals in 75 career appearances with the Nigerian national team.


Mikel has won two EPL titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, one UEFA Champions League and one UEFA Europe League with Chelsea. He lifted the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 2013 and competed for his country at the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, captaining Nigeria to a bronze medal.