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Super Eagles skipper is reported to be on his way to join newly promoted side, Aston Villa following the expiration of his short term contract with English Championship side, Middlesbrough FC. Aston Villa are however yet to confirm the report.
Middlesborough confirmed on Thursday that Mikel, alongside Stewart Downing, Dimi Konstantopoulos and Andy Lonergan would leave as free agents this summer.
Mikel and Lonergan joined on short-term deals last season, but Downing and Konstantopoulos are both long-serving players.
Following the announcement, football agent, John Harriot, tweeted on Friday that “John Obi Mikel is due at Bodymoor Heath today to be presented as an Aston Villa player”
Villa just got promoted to the English Premier League and is looking to strenthen its side for the 2019/2020 campaign. They are also reported to be interested in signing Gary Cahill, 33, who is leaving Chelsea as a free agent after seven trophy-laden years.
The 33-year-old will be released by the Blues following seven trophy-laden years at Stamford Bridge. A move to Villa Park would see him return to the club where it all began for the central defender.
Mikel, 32, who joined Boro in January after leaving Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda, impressed during his short stay at Riverside, making 18 appearances and scoring once. The Smoggies however missed promotion to the EPL after finishing seventh on the Championship table.
Mikel and Cahill in Aston Villa may translate to a Chelsea regrouping with Stamford Bridge legend, John Terry, now assistant head coach at Aston Villa. Besides, Villa is where Cahill started his professional career.