Chelsea cult hero John Obi Mikel has indirectly weighed in on the long-running Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Paul Scholes debate after recently naming his Premier League all-time XI. Arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2006 and departing in 2017, the Nigerian finds himself in a unique position to assess the greatest players ever to grace England’s top flight.
What makes the now 38-year-old even more qualified to speak on the age-old question of England’s best modern midfielder is that he was right in the thick of the battles that defined the trio. Having also turned out for Middlesbrough and Stoke City during his trophy-laden career, Mikel knew the English game so well he could have navigated it blindfolded.
Very few foreign imports of the Barclays era survived such a relentless midfield tempo, but Jose Mourinho’s trusted engine room was among the finest around. Alongside him, Claude Makelele helped the Blues to two league titles, a Champions League, and three FA Cups. But what, then, does Mikel think of the debate around the greatest Premier League XI? He detailed his picks in a recent interview on talkSPORT.
John Obi Mikel's Premier League All-Time XI
John Obi Mikel
John Obi Mikel
GK - Petr Cech
As the player Mikel lined up alongside more than anyone else - sharing the pitch with Petr Cech an incredible 272 times - there was never any doubt about who he’d trust between the sticks. “It’s too hard to leave Cech out. He has the most clean sheets in Premier League history,” Mikel explained, after admitting he briefly considered Peter Schmeichel for the spot.
The Czech international holds a host of goalkeeping records, including the fewest appearances required to reach 100 clean sheets (180), the most clean sheets in a single season (24), and, of course, the all-time Premier League record with 202.
RB - Kyle Walker
One of only two active Premier League stars in this all-time XI currently plays for Burnley. Naturally, Walker earns his place for his exploits at Manchester City, where he lifted six league titles. The blistering pace he displayed at his peak was the stuff of Champions League legend - keeping the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior as quiet as a mouse as Pep Guardiola’s side stormed to the treble in 2023.
His former manager summed it up perfectly, saying he could “sleep like a baby” before big games knowing Walker was starting the next day. One of the greatest right-backs in football history, his stature among teammates was made clear when Jack Grealish once asked Thierry Henry if even he could have outplayed Walker at his best in a moment of TV gold.
CB - John Terry
John Terry spent 19 years at Chelsea and was the backbone of their defence for the majority of his career. Never mind the best centre-back in Premier League history, there's an argument that Terry is one of the greatest defenders of all time. His exceptional understanding of the game, tenacity and physical strength made him the most feared central defender during the peak of his powers.
Chelsea's most successful skipper led his beloved Blues to numerous trophies, including five Premier League titles. His consistency and performances cement his place as the league's greatest centre-back ever. Not only was Terry unbelievable in his own penalty area, but he was also a threat in the opposing box as he netted an impressive 41 goals during his time at the club. If there was ever proof that defence wins you titles, then let it be through Terry that it becomes fact.
CB - Tony Adams
Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell and Virgil van Dijk were all left out in favour of Arsenal legend Tony Adams - as Mikel opted to select a player before his time, someone many may raise their eyebrows at. The former midfielder said:
"Rio was fantastic, absolutely amazing. But what Tony Adams did for Arsenal, just the way he played, he was a unit, he was strong, he was aggressive. I like my centre-backs like that. The ones who know when to step out and give the striker no time. Because that's the most difficult thing."
Tony Adams, Arsenal
Adding: "I just don't think Virgil would be as good as he is right now [if he played in that era]," it's clear that one of the things the Nigerian took away from his time in England is that a ruthless defender is a sign of a good one.
LB - Ashley Cole
But while Mikel's centre-back options lean towards the more heavy-tackling side of the Premier League, his choice at left-back was the complete opposite. Ashley Cole was a key figure for Arsenal in the 2003/04 campaign as the Gunners ended the year unbeaten.
His pace, stamina, and agility allowed him to make timely interventions and turn defence into attack within moments, with his technical ability being better suited to an attacker at times during an era when flying wing-backs weren't trendy like they are now. Add in his longevity, having also been a star under Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, and you have the greatest left-back in the history of the league.
RM - Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah’s brief stint in west London overlapped slightly with Mikel’s, with the pair sharing the pitch just 11 times. But it wasn’t until Liverpool’s “Egyptian King” left Chelsea that he truly came into his own - something the Blues dressing room realised almost immediately, as Cesc Fabregas later revealed.
Now, 188 goals and 89 assists later - across 308 Premier League appearances - genuine debates can be had over whether he belongs in the competition’s top three players of all time. He’s won two league titles, a record four Player of the Year awards, and four Golden Boots, while also holding the record for the most goal involvements in a single season: an astonishing 47 in 38 games during the 2024/25 campaign.
CM - Paul Scholes
Gerrard and Lampard’s trophy cabinets pale in comparison to Scholes’, who won 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and two Champions League crowns. That record goes a long way toward explaining why Mikel selected the Manchester United midfielder in his greatest XI, slotting him alongside N’Golo Kante in a 4-4-2 formation.
paul scholes barcelona
Xavi once described the Red Devils icon - one of the finest talents ever produced by the Carrington academy - as the best in his position over a 20-year span, adding that Scholes would have been valued even more highly had he been Spanish. So technically gifted, the “Ginger Prince” often looked out of place amid the bruising midfield battles of his era, yet his quick wits and footballing brain allowed him to stay one step ahead, avoid danger, and keep creating magic with the precision of a tiki-taka perfectionist.
CM - N'Golo Kante
Little was known about N'Golo Kante when he arrived at Leicester from Caen in 2015 for a very modest fee of around £5.6m, but his impact was immediate as he played a key role in a fairytale title-winning campaign that year, with his tireless energy in midfield leading to a record-breaking 153 interceptions across the season as the Foxes lifted the trophy against odds of 500/1.
Even after Leicester City's own fairytale came to a brooding twist, the Frenchman's carried on. He won the PFA Player of the Year with the Blues, further adding Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup winners medals to his collection. When picking him, Mikel made a point to emphasise that he would trust Kante to break up play over the likes of Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane.
LM - Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard has frequently been in and around conversations regarding the best left-winger in Premier League history. On the topic of another of his former teammates, Mikel said:
"One of the best, best, best players I played with. Ryan Giggs? I think Hazard obviously did it for a short period of time, but he was very, very, very good. So good. Obviously, the longevity of Giggs, what he did for over 20 years, no one can take that away from him. If you talk about longevity of the game, legend of the game, I'll go with Giggsy. But if you're talking about just sheer quality… it's Hazard."
The Belgian playmaker often acted as a Roy of the Rovers-style player at various flashpoints of his time at Chelsea. Even when the Blues weren't playing at their rhythmic best, he would find a way to get the best out of those around him through his own masterful displays. Between 2012 and 2019, the rest of the Chelsea squad would march to the beat of Hazard's drum.
ST - Didier Drogba
One of the greatest big-game players to have ever played in England, Didier Drogba was the crown jewel of Mourinho's first spell at the club. The big Ivorian scored 104 Premier League goals, often in high-stakes situations. But he was so much more than just a goalscorer - he was a powerful striker who bullied defenders with his great strength and aerial ability. He also possessed great technical ability and was quick.
The goalscorer of Chelsea's late equaliser against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final, Mikel will forever be indebted to his fellow African teammates' exploits for helping him to his only major European honour.
ST - Thierry Henry
This list wouldn’t be complete without Thierry Henry - widely regarded as the cream of the crop in English football history. The Frenchman transformed the game upon his arrival at Arsenal in 1998, terrorised defences, won two league titles, and left behind a legacy arguably greater than anyone else’s.
An entertainer first and a footballer second, there wasn’t a soul on the planet who didn’t enjoy watching the Gunners’ greatest-ever player strut his stuff, even if spectatorship was mostly fuelled by envy. See Mikel's full Premier League all-time XI below:
John Obi Mikel's Premier League XI
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt & Premier League (correct as of 11/10/2025)