Michael Essien is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays for
Chelsea in the Premier League. He is a defensive midfielder and
plays as a deep-lying playmaker for the Ghana national football
team, but is deployed all over the pitch at Chelsea due to his
versatility. He is the most expensive African footballer of all
time. Essien began his football career after graduating from St.
Augustine's College in Cape Coast, playing in a local club in his
native Ghana, called Liberty Professionals. He broke through when
he played in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship in New Zealand.
On August 14, 2005, Chelsea agreed a £24.4 million fee
for the Ghanaian, finally ending one of the longest-running
transfer sagas. At the time, the fee made Essien Chelsea's
most expensive signing of all time, beating the £24 million they
paid for Didier Drogba the previous summer. The transfer went
through on August 19. He made his debut as a second half substitute
against Arsenal on August 21, 2005, wearing the number 5 on his
shirt. The game ended with a 1-0 victory to Chelsea. He made an
assist in his full debut against West Bromwich Albion, and he
replaced the injured Claude Makélélé in the defensive midfield role
against Sunderland in the 2–0 win on September 10, 2005. He soon
cemented his place in José Mourinho's side, starting in 31 domestic
league games, and 11 appearances in the other cup competitions.
Essien scored his first goal for Chelsea in March 11, 2006, in a
2–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. His second goal came on April
17, 2006, against Everton with a powerful strike after an assertive
burst through the defensive line. Essien ended his maiden season in
England with two goals, both in the Premier League.
Even though he was one of the youngest players in the tournament,
Essien took part in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in
Argentina. On May 16, 2006, Essien was selected to be part of the
team that represented Ghana at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Essien played in Ghana's 0–2 defeat to Italy, their 2–0
victory over the Czech Republic, and the 2–1 victory over the
United States, and helped Ghana become the only African team to
reach the second round of the 2006 World Cup. Essian was voted as
an All-Star Player during the 2008 African Cup of Nations
Tournament in Ghana.

Full name: Michael Kojo Essien
Date of birth: December 3, 1982 (age 26)
Place of birth: Accra, Ghana
Height: 1.78m
Playing position: Central midfielder/Defensive midfielder/Right back
/Centre back
Current club: Chelsea
Number: 5