Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has completed possibly the most unexpected transfer of the summer. The Nigerian has officially joined Championship side Stoke City in one final hurrah. The 33-year-old will certainly add much-needed experience to a Stoke City side who finished mid-table last season.
The former Chelsea man stated in his first interview at the club: “There is always a need to win a game, we need to find that way. That mentality needs to come into the team, it’s all about winning week in, week out.”
Stoke Secure Shock Mikel Deal
Winning Mentality
In his first interview alone, we saw the winning mentality of Mikel shine through. And that’s exactly what Stoke City need. They need that leader; that advisor; that serial winner to take them to the play-off places this season.
The Nigerian will line up against Wayne Rooney once more, too, this season as the two veterans face off for perhaps the final two times. If you told someone that Mikel, with Stoke, and Rooney, with Derby, would be lining up against each other in the Championship, they’d probably laugh and call you a lier. Yet, here we are in this new unforeseen reality.
For Stoke, the hope will be for players to learn from the experienced midfielder, and with that knowledge, improve significantly.
One Last Challenge for Mikel
At the age of 33, Mikel’s incredible career is undoubtedly coming to a close. The move to Stoke gives him one final challenge; one final use of the engine to help his new side to new heights. The transfer is certainly one to keep an eye on.
It will be interesting, too, to see whether Mikel takes the captain’s armband as Rooney did when joining Derby. If he does take it, nobody will be able to argue with the decision. After all, he is a Premier League icon.
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