Mikel John Obi or John Obi Mikel? What is the Chelsea midfielder's real name? Chelsea's weekly wages

Mikel John Obi has previously been known as John Obi Mikel

Is it John Obi Mikel or Mikel John Obi?

The Chelsea midfielder's full birth name is John Michael Nchekwube Obinna.

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Obinna is commonly shortened to Obi in Igbo culture, the ethnic group to which he belongs. His father is Michael Obi, and Nchekwube means hope. His given name is John.

He was accidentally registered as John Obi Mikel - the middle name is often dropped and Mikel was a spelling mistake for Michael - by the Nigerian __football Association in 2003 but the player was happy to keep it.

Apparently, he 'liked the ring of Mikel'.

When did John Obi Mikel become Mikel John Obi?

When he moved to England from Norwegian club Lyn in 2006 in a move that nearly saw him join Manchester United, he went by Mikel John Obi although his real name remained John Obi Mikel and he had Mikel on the back of his shirt.

Mikel John Obi joined Chelsea in 2006 asa teenager

Mikel John Obi is said to have been given the misspelling of Michael by Nigeria

However, the Nigeria international decided to change his name officially over the summer to Mikel John Obi.

But the 29-year-old will continue to wear 'Mikel' despite the change.