EFL Championship side Middlesbrough have confirmed through their official website the signing of Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel.

The Nigeria international has joined Boro on a free transfer and has penned a short-term deal until the end of the 2018-2019 season following a successful medical.

Mikel was linked with several clubs including AS Roma, Wolfsburg and Fenerbahce but opted to pitch his tenth with Middlesbrough and boost their chances of promotion to the Premier League.

''I'm pleased to get him in. He is a man with a lot of experience and quality,'' manager Tony Pulis stated.

"He has a winning mentality and he wants to be here be a part of what we are looking to achieve."

For the remainder of the 2018-2019 campaign, Obi Mikel will play with the number two jersey.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Carl Ikeme and Kenneth Omeruo previously played for Boro.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : mfc.co.uk