John Obi Mikel switch to Tianjin TEDA for £140,000-per-week

Super Eagles of Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel is on the verge of completing a switch to Tianjin TEDA on a reported £140,000-per-week deal after falling out of favour at current club Chelsea.

The Chinese Super League outfit has beaten competition from European sides Marseille and Valencia, with the deal expected to be formally announced early next week upon completion of medicals which is expected to go as expected.

29 year old Mikel has only six months left on his current Chelsea deal and has been allowed to talk to clubs since December, with the Blues willing to let go of one of their second-longest-serving players go for free after over 10 years at the club.

The Nigeria captain was reluctant to move to the Chinese League as he looked for a move that was best for him and his family, but Goal.com reports that he became convinced after talks in London with the CSL side.

Thank you for everything, @mikel_john_obi! ? pic.twitter.com/KgVscZl8jT

— Conteholic (@Conteholic) January 6, 2017

OFFICIAL: John Obi Mikel has signed for Chinese side Tianjin TEDA! Thanks for everything @mikel_john_obi #cfc pic.twitter.com/oYfpzKm8zw

— Chelsea Alerts (@ChelseaAlerts) January 6, 2017

Mikel has been frozen out at Stamford Bridge since Italian Antonio Conte took the reins last summer, with the likes of Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante preferred in the central midfield positions and his congratulatory message to former Chelsea player Oscar fuelled reports of his move to China.

Good luck in China @oscar8 … it's been a pleasure my friend ⚽ ???????? pic.twitter.com/Gu05dQXK9L

— Mikel John Obi (@mikel_john_obi) December 23, 2016

His last appearance for the Blues was in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool back in May last year under former caretaker manager Guus Hiddink.

The former Lyn Oslo midfielder won two English Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Uefa Champions League trophy amongst others at the London club.