As he gains prominence post-retirement, Nigerians want to know, “What is Mikel Obi net worth?”
The 36-year-old retired from the Nigeria national football team in 2019 as its longest serving captain. He then hung up his boots in 2021 after a stint in the Middle East to focus on his family, life and businesses.
He has now joined the many former professionals who create football content around their glory days and the state of modern football through his Obi One Podcast. This has also contributed to his wealth post retirement.
Read on for more information on Mikel Obi net worth.
“I am still the most successful and decorated football player in Nigeria”
– Mikel Nchekwube Obi pic.twitter.com/ABAest0g5S
— IGBO History & Facts (@IgboHistoFacts) November 13, 2023
Mikel Obi net worth as a player: How much did he earn in his career?
Mikel Obi net worth became significant when he became a global football superstar. The story of his move to the Premier League is the stuff of legends in the annals of football history.
Once considered valuable enough to demand one of the highest transfer fees for an African player, the silver boot winner and runner-up of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship (now known as the U-17 FIFA World Cup) ended up at Chelsea.
Their desperation to land Mikel John Obi led to him being among the highest paid African footballers at the time. Inadvertently, he also became the highest paid Nigerian footballer at the time with his weekly wages which was reportedly around £15,000.
Mikel Obi blows hot! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rOXG7QmqTc
— IGBO History & Facts (@IgboHistoFacts) November 17, 2023
He spent 10 years at Chelsea and signed several contract extensions in that time. His highest salary at the Stamford Bridge outfit was reported to be around £120,000 per week. However, when he left Chelsea in 2016/17, he reportedly earned £75,000 per week.
His next club, Tianjin Teda in China, more than doubled that figure for the 2016/17 season and Mikel Obi reportedly earned around £300,000 per week.
He played for a few more clubs after his stint in China, including EFL Championship clubs Stoke City and Middlesbrough where he earned between £30,000 and £50,000 weekly.
In the course of his career, he earned between £1 million and £12 million per annum. He set up a number of businesses and made some investments in that time with the wealth his talent helped him amass.
Mikel Obi net worth in his days as an active player was calculated to be between £30 million and £40 million.
Mikel Obi net worth post retirement: How much does he earn outside football?
Mikel Obi net worth increased after his career ended. This is because the player had more time to pay to his businesses.
While playing actively, Mikel Obi set up a transport company in Nigeria among other businesses. He also reportedly went into the building materials importation business in the country. He has investments in the real estate industry in Nigeria as well, with properties in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Jos (where he grew up) and other parts of Nigeria.
The struggle against Lionel Messi — Mikel Obi pic.twitter.com/mL3gYtKKd4
— Naija (@Naija_PR) November 17, 2023
Outside the country, Mikel Obi has dabbled into football talent management according to unconfirmed sources. His most visible body of work is with the media. He makes paid appearances at events and is also involved in producing his own content for the consumption of football fans.
Mikel Obi net worth is now estimated to be around £50 million to £60 million which makes him Nigeria’s richest footballer, active and retired.
This article was most recently revised and updated 10 months ago
