Quick Facts

Former Ghanaian professional football player Michael Kojo Essien, a midfielder, is now on the coaching staff of FC Nordsjaelland in the Danish Superliga. He was regarded as one of Africa’s top midfielders during his time. In 1998, he began playing football for the Liberty Professionals young squad. Later, he played for Bastia, Lyon, Chelsea, Milan, Panathinaikos, Persib Bandung, and Sabail in addition to Real Madrid (on loan). He played for Chelsea for the most of his professional career, making over 250 games, contributing more than 20 goals and more than 15 assists in all competitions. Also, He played for Chelsea, where he helped the team win four FA Cups, one League Cup, and the FA Community Shield in addition to the Premier League in 2006 and 2010.

He won the UEFA Champions League in 2012 and finished as runner-up in the competition in 2008. He has represented Ghana at various ages on the international stage. Also, He competed for his nation in the young division in the FIFA U-17 World Championship in 1999 and the FIFA World Youth Championship in 2001, when the latter team came in second. On January 4th, 2002, he debuted for Ghana’s national team. He has competed for his country at three FIFA World Cups and the 2006 and 2014 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. After more than 12 years of active duty with Ghana, he announced his retirement from international football in July 2018. Between 2002 and 2014, he played 59 times for the Ghanaian national team, scoring 9 goals for his country.

What are the Salary and Net Worth of Michael Essien?

Michael Essien is a retired professional footballer who had played for clubs like Bastia, Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid (loan), Milan, Panathinaikos, Persib Bandung, and Sabail. He made money through his professional football playing career and is currently making money from his professional coaching job. Contracts, salaries, bonuses, and endorsements provide the majority of his revenue. His net worth is $35 million, however his salary has not yet been made public. Any updates on his salary will be updated here soon.

Early Years and Bio

On December 3, 1982, Michael Kojo Essien was conceived. Accra, Ghana, is where he was born. His mother, Aba Gyandoh, and his father, James Essien, gave birth to him. He went to Ghana’s JSS and Gomoa Nyanyano DC Primary schools. He is a citizen of Ghana. Africans make up his ethnicity. His spirituality is Christian. Sagittarius is his natal sign.

What is the Professional Career of Michael Essien?

After graduating from St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast, he started playing football in 1998, signing with a neighborhood team called Liberty Professionals. He was signed by Division 1 club Bastia for an undisclosed sum on August 30, 2000. On September 30, 2000, he made his club debut in a 1-0 victory over Metz. He scored his first goal for the team on February 7, 2001, in a 3-2 loss to Metz. His three seasons at Bastia included 74 club games and 12 goals in all competitions. He transferred to Lyon on July 1 for a rumored €7.8 million transfer fee. He arrived and was given the shirt with the number 4. On July 27, 2003, he scored on his club debut in a 2-1 victory over Auxerre in the 2003 Trophee des Champions final.

He played for Lyon for two seasons, appearing 96 times and scoring 13 goals across all competitions. He won back-to-back league championships at Lyon in 2003–04 and 2004–05. In addition, he was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2005. He signed for Premier League team Chelsea on August 14, 2005, for a transfer price of £24.4 million, making him the most expensive African footballer in history at the time. On August 21, 2005, he made his club debut in a 1-0 victory over Arsenal while donning number 5 on his jersey. He scored his first goal for the team on March 11, 2006, in a 2-1 victory over Spurs.

More on Career

He played for Chelsea for the most of his professional career, making over 250 games, contributing more than 20 goals and more than 15 assists in all competitions. He played for Chelsea, where he helped the team win four FA Cups, one League Cup, and the FA Community Shield in addition to the Premier League in 2006 and 2010. Also, He won the UEFA Champions League in 2012 and finished as runner-up in the competition in 2008. In the seasons 2006–07 and 2008–09, he twice won the Chelsea Goal of the Season title. He signed a season-long loan agreement with Real Madrid on August 31, 2012, reuniting with Jose Mourinho, his former Chelsea boss. On August 18, 2012, he made his club debut in a 3-2 victory over Manchester City in a UEFA Champions League group stage encounter.

He scored his first goal for the team on November 3, 2012, in a 4-0 victory over Real Zaragoza. He made 35 appearances for the team while on loan at Real Madrid, contributing 1 assist and 2 goals across all competitions. Also, He signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Italian club Milan on January 25, 2015. On February 8, 2014, he made his club debut in a 3-1 loss to SSC Napoli.

He made 7 appearances for the club in all competitions during his rookie campaign. Also, He made 13 appearances for the club in all competitions during the 2014–15 season. He committed to a two-year deal with the Greek team Panathinaikos on June 2, 2015. His contract made him the highest-paid player at the team, earning him an annual salary of €800,000. He dealt with a leg injury during the first three months of the season. On November 28, 2015, he made his club debut in a 1-0 loss against Iraklis.

More on Career

He made his club debut on January 24, 2016, in a 2-0 victory over APO Levadiakos. He made 15 appearances for the team during his first campaign, scoring once across all competitions.He spent a season in Greece before being left off the Panathinaikos’ roster for the 2016–17 campaign in the hopes that his contract would be terminated. After the two parties came to an understanding regarding his release, his termination by the club was officially acknowledged approximately three months later. After the deal was reached and he was released from his contract, the club failed to pay him the money owed to him.

He then filed an appeal with the Greek court with jurisdiction over football matters, which resulted in Panathinaikos being ordered to pay him the remaining amount of about €36,000 or risk losing three points in the upcoming 2018–19 season. On March 13, 2017, he signed a one-year contract with a one-year option to extend with the Indonesian club side Persib Bandung. For the 2017 Liga 1 season, he chose the number 5 jersey, the same one he wore for nine years at Chelsea. On April 15, 2017, he made his club debut in a 0-0 draw against Arema Cronus. He scored his debut goal for the team in a 2-2 draw against PS TNI on April 22, 2017.

He made 29 appearances for the club during the 2016–17 campaign, contributing 1 assist and 5 goals across all competitions. According to Zainuri Hasyim, the club’s chief executive, Persib has now released him because the club has already filled its PSSI-mandated maximum quota of four international players. This was stated on March 17, 2018. He signed a one and a half-year contract with Sabail FK of the Azerbaijan Premier League on March 16 of this year, and during that time, he made 11 appearances for the team across all competitions. As a player for Sabail FK, he ended his active career in 2020, following the conclusion of the 2019–20 season.

International Career of Michael Essien

He has competed for Ghana in different age divisions. Also, He competed for his nation in the young division in the FIFA U-17 World Championship in 1999 and the FIFA World Youth Championship in 2001, when the latter team came in second. On January 4th, 2002, he debuted for Ghana’s national team.

He has represented his nation at three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and at the 2006 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. After more than 12 years of active duty with Ghana, he announced his retirement from international football in July 2018. He played 59 times for the Ghana national team between 2002 and 2014 where he scored 9 goals for his nation.

Awards and Achievements

Honors

• Won 2003-04, 2004-05 Ligue 1 with Lyon.
• Won 2003, 2004 Trophee de Champions with Lyon.
• Won the 2005-06, 2009-10 Premier League with Chelsea.
• Won the 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12 FA Cup with Chelsea.
• Won the 2006-07 Football League Cup with Chelsea.
• Won the 2009 FA Community Shield with Chelsea.
• Won the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League with Chelsea.

Individual

• Won the 2004-05 Ligue 1 Player of the Year.
• Won the 2006 BBC African Footballer of the Year.
• Won the 2007 Ghana Player of the Year.
• Won the 2006-07 Chelsea Player of the Year.
• Won the Chelsea Goal of the Year: 2006-07 vs Arsenal, 2008-09 vs Barcelona.

Who is the Wife of Michael Essien?

He is a married man, based on what is known about him personally. In September 2012, he wed his lovely girlfriend, Akosua Puni Essien, in a private ceremony in London. Michael Essien Jr. and Michelle Essien are the couple’s two children. His wife and kids are his closest friends, and the three of them are contentedly cohabitating.

Body Stats: Height and Weight

Michael Essien is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, or 1.78 meters, tall. His body weight is 85 kg. His physique is athletic. Both his hair and eyes are black. Straight is the way he identifies sexually.

Trivia