Mikel Obi, who joined Stoke City last month as a free agent, having not played since mid-March when he left a Trabzonspor team he had been leading in a charge for the Turkish title has been awarded a squad number ahead of the new Championship 2020/2021 season.
The former UCL winner with Chelsea will wear the number 13 for the new season acclimating himself to his surroundings having played for Middleborough in the Championship before the unfruitful move to Turkey.
The Potters have brought in Morgan Fox, James Chester, Steven Fletcher and John Obi Mikel on permanent deals so far in the summer window.
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Fox and Fletcher, both arrivals from Sheffield Wednesday, have been allocated number 3 and 21 respectively.
Chester retains the number 12 he donned during the second half of last season during his loan spell from Aston Villa.
The former Chelsea star is one of four free agents to arrive so far and Stoke have had to fight hard for their signatures, not least in the case of Mikel who had lucrative offers on the table from Russia and Brazil.
The 33-year-old midfielder arrives with 540 senior games on his CV for club and country and a host of winner’s medals and trophies and it is hoped he can coax more out of those around him as Michael O’Neill tries to get the best out of his squad.
