Mikel: I am thinking about leaving Chelsea

John Obi Mikel has been playing since 2006, for eleven years, for Chelsea after joining them form FK Lyn. It seemed like he was one of the stars to stay forever at the club, but he revealed now it could be different.

His current contract runs until June 2017 and the 29-year-old is thinking about his future. He told 'Goal':

"I have one year left [on my contract]. When you have a year left as a football player, you have to start planning and start thinking about what’s going to happen at the end of the season. Yes, there are going to be rumours, yes, there are going to be conversations between clubs.

"When you have a year left, in January, you are allowed to talk to other clubs and sign a pre-contract or have an agreement so, yes, I will talk to other clubs because you never know what is going to happen."

"I’ve been here for a long, long time. I’ve spent 11 years of my life in this football club, it is my home.

He doesn't rule out an extension. "This season is the last at the club if my contract ends. I am quite relaxed about it, the future looks good", he said.

"I am always open to a new conversation, a negotiation [with Chelsea]," he added. "But if there’s none, the future still looks bright. One day you have to move on. I think my memories here, my achievements here, are something that no one will ever take away from me.

"I have won everything there is to win with this football club. We were the first London club to win the Champions League, and forever I will be one of the first players to win the Champions League for Chelsea. Those memories will never go away".

An important factor for his future plans is his family. " I will decide where is best for me and my family," he continued. "You don’t just wake up as a single man and sign wherever, it has to be good for you, the family, the kids, so it is about the package. The best decision has to be made.

"If it is going to be the Premier League there will be options. If it is China or some other places, we will see. One thing is for sure, I will make the best decision".