Michael Essien grew up in Accra, capital of his homeland Ghana, where he played for his local club, 'Liberty Professionals'. Michael remained in Africa into adulthood and made his major break-through in 1999, when playing for his country in the U14 World Junior Cup in New Zealand.
After an impressive stint at the French club, Bastia, a number of clubs in France and England courted the young, talented player. He accepted Olympique Lyonnais' offer in 2003 and produced dominant performances in his two years there, helping the club to two consecutive league victories and to quarter-final matches in the Champions League. Essien became the star of French football and he was voted Player of the Year there. In August 2005, after protracted transfer negotiations, it was announced that Essien would move to Chelsea for a record £24.4 million; the fee is still Chelsea FC's highest transfer ever paid and he is the most expensive African football player in the world.
Michael's Chelsea debut came as a substitute against Arsenal in August 2005, just two days after signing. Early performances matched expectations. Since then, the young player clocked a total of 264 games, making a significant contribution to last season's championship success. Essien's talents have been lauded by Jose Mourinho, who said, 'He is midfield multifunctional, he is dynamic and strong. The boy has incredible physical power, he is super resistant with great speed and unending tactical abilities'. As a 'powerhouse' for the team, he has earned his nickname 'The Bison'.
As testament to his world class, Michael Essien was nominated for the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year Award. He was also one of three players to be nominated for African Footballer of the Year, 2007.