John Obi Mikel has spoken for the first time, about his move to Tianjin TEDA.
The 29-year-old is set to seal a free transfer from Chelsea to the
Chinese Super League club,
after 10 years and 374 appearances for the Blues.
In an open letter posted on his Twitter page, he wrote:
“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.”