LONDON, June 3 (Xinhua) -- English Premier champions Chelsea have signed Nigerian teenager John Obi Mikel after agreeing to pay 12 million pounds (22.4 million US dollars) to Manchester United.
The signing on Saturday ended an 18-month battle over the talented midfielder with the United.
Chelsea said they would also pay Mikel's former club Lyn Oslo four million pounds.
Mikel who signed for United in April last year, said he wanted to play for Chelsea, with whom he trained in 2004. Since then, his future became uncertain, and he even went missing from Lyn for several weeks last year at the height of the dispute.
Chelsea said the financial settlement put an end to the affair. The payments were made to allow Mikel to resume his career and United would support them in any work permit application that was necessary.
Mikel was the fourth signing for Chelsea, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, after the Premiership season.
Germany captain Michael Ballack joined them last month, Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko also came from AC Milan and 20-year-old Feyenoord forward Salomon Kalou was recruited last week. Enditem
