On 31 July 2006, he stated that he prefers to be called Mikel John Obi instead of John Obi Mikel, as he had most commonly been called.
Afduubayaasha ayaa u sheegay Mr Obi "in ay bixiyaan $ 4bn (£ 2.4bn), taas oo ay ku tilmaameen 'beddelka hilibka' Mikel, kooxdiisa Chelsea iyo ugu muhiimsan, milkiilaha Roman Abrahimovic.