John Obi Mikel signs new five-year contract at Chelsea
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Your support makes all the difference.John Obi Mikel has signed a new five-year contract at Chelsea, the club announced today.
The 25-year-old midfielder committed his future to the European champions until 2017 - something that would see him complete 11 years at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel, who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2006 after controversially pulling out of a move to Manchester United, told the club's official website, http://www.chelseafc.com: "Chelsea seems like my home now because I have been here for over six years and I enjoy my time here.
"I come into the training ground every day to work and I value my time there. I am happy and want to keep going and win trophies for this club."
Mikel has endured a rollercoaster season and still faces punishment from the Football Association for confronting Mark Clattenburg in the referees' room after Chelsea's Barclays Premier League defeat to Manchester United in October.
Nigeria international Mikel was furious after being told he had been called a "monkey" by Clattenburg - something of which the official was last month cleared.
Mikel was a key player in Chelsea's Champions League triumph last season and has also won one Barclays Premier League title, four FA Cups and a League Cup.
However, he has not been universally appreciated among the club's fans, partly because of his lack of goals - he has scored only two - and assists.
He added: "I have basically won everything with Chelsea and those years have been really special for me, winning trophies with big names like Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard who have had very long Chelsea careers.
"Last season, to win the Champions League was even more special and I hope these next five years will bring even more success and I can win trophies with the new players we have here.
"Being 25, I think I am now hitting my peak but as a player you want to improve every day and there is still room for that.
"I want to learn from the players and the manager and I just want to keep going."
PA
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