Nigeria’s Obi Mikel After Boro Switch: I Love Challenges

John Obi Mikel is relishing reviving his career insisting he loves challenges after joining English second-tier side Middlesbrough Football Club.

The Nigeria international returned to England to sign a six-month deal with Boro having terminated his deal with Tianjin TEDA who escaped demotion by a thin thread in the Chinese Super League.

Mikel was initially Crystal Palace bound but shunned the move over the Premier League outfit’s failure to guarantee consistent playing minutes.

And beginning a new chapter, the Super Eagles’ captain sees his arrival at the Riverside Stadium as a challenge.

“Here is going to be a challenge, but I love challenges.”

“We have to put our heads together and help each other,” he said after completion of his signature.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “If anyone knows me from my years at Chelsea, I always played for the team. The team comes first and that’s exactly what I’m going to do here.”   [/perfectpullquote]

“I spoke to a few clubs and I also spoke to Tony [Pulis], had a good chat with him. He’s told me where he wants to go with it and it definitely fits with what I want to do.”

“The club wants to get promoted so hopefully, I’m here to help in any way I can. It’s a family club and this is what I want. I like stability and this is why I was at Chelsea for a very long time.”

Mikel, who spent 11 years at Chelsea winning ten trophies in the process including the EPL twice, has since joined his teammates at training.