By Chris O'Brien
May 15 2006

Reports in Nigeria indicate that John Obi Mikel has been granted permission to complete a controversial move to Premiership champions Chelsea. The 19-year-old signed a contract for United back in April 2005, but then claimed he did so under duress and, instead, favoured a move to Stamford Bridge.

The John Obi Mikel transfer saga finally appears to be over with the Nigerian teenager on the verge of joining big-spending Chelsea, according to press reports in Africa.

Mikel signed a long-term contract with United back in April 2005, securing the move from Norwegian outfit Lyn Oslo, but an embarrassing ordeal then followed with the midfielder refusing to move to Old Trafford. The player and his agent claimed that any contract that had been signed was done so under duress and that the 19-year-old favoured a move to Chelsea.

The entire soap opera has come as a huge blow Sir Alex Ferguson. The United boss had been tracking the youngster for some time, having expressed firm interest after the entire Nigerian under-17 squad trained at Carrington ahead of the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Championships. The club had to wait until the player turned 18 under British immigration law to make a formal offer, and were seemingly delighted to have completed the transfer after this date passed with the move supposedly agreed for the end of the Norwegian season in January 2006.

However, Mikel since told agents that his "delight" at the United move was all a front and that any contract was signed under pressure from club officials. Negotiations rumbled on between agents for months, but it is now believed that Chelsea have won the tussle to sign the player. The financial picture remains unclear.

Whilst Mikel's words are baffling and frustrating - if he doesn't want to play football for MUFC, surely paying a teenager over the odds is not in the club's vested interests? Whilst this would appear to be a war between football agents over anything else, let's just hope that it's now all put behind both parties and that the Nigerian is allowed to get on with playing the beautiful game. He has not played a professional game for four months.