Mikel Obi discusses How Manchester United Was Prevented by Premier League Rule not to Sign Him (Video)
Even though a pre-contract agreement had been reached, former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has disclosed that Manchester United was unable to complete his signing due to a Premier League restriction.
After turning 18, Mikel was supposed to join the Red Devils, but a league rule requiring foreign players to have played in at least 75% of their nation’s senior national team games prevented the move from happening.
The former Chelsea midfielder told Sky Sports that Sir Alex Ferguson, the team’s manager at the time, was totally dedicated to getting him to Old Trafford.
In his words ;
“Fergie loved me. He would always pair me with Roy Keane because he thought Keane would protect me from the likes of Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who were always tackling people in training,”
He clarified that the transfer was finally prevented by a Premier League rule.
Mikel also stated; “United looked into other ways to get his services before he turned eighteen, but those plans didn’t work. He said “The strategy was to get me in and out before I turned 18, but that wasn’t possible in my case,”
At the age of 19, the midfield player finally signed with Chelsea in 2006, and he had a very successful tenure at Stamford Bridge. Mikel played for the Blues for over 11 years, making 372 appearances.
Watch the video below ;
“Fergie loved me, he used to always pair me with Roy Keane” 👊
When Mikel John Obi went to Manchester United trials as a 16-year-old and trained with the first team… pic.twitter.com/WYsO83n8I3
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 3, 2026
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