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Chelsea begin legal fight for £16m Mikel fee

10/10/2008

Chelsea have issued a High Court claim in a bid to recover the £16 million transfer fee the club paid for midfielder Jon Obi Mikel.

The Blues are taking action against the 21-year-old's former club Lyn Oslo of Norway and their former chief executive Morgen Andersen for the full amount they paid to complete the player's transfer in 2006.

In an official statement, Chelsea contend that they should be reimbursed after Andersen was convicted by a Norwegian court earlier this year of forging documents in relation to the transfer.

"The claim is against FC Lyn Oslo and Morgen Andersen and follows the criminal conviction in Norway of Lyn's former chief executive officer Morgan Andersen," Chelsea said.

"It is for the entire £16 million fee paid by Chelsea for the player as it is now clear following Andersen's conviction that the transfer was based on the fraudulent misrepresentation that Mikel had an employment contract with Lyn.

"At the time of the transfer, Chelsea, Lyn and Manchester United agreed that the fees paid would be in final settlement of the transfer, any claims related to it and that no further action or comment regarding the transfer would be made.

"Chelsea has written to Lyn to make clear that because the transfer was based on a fraudulent misrepresentation, now proven by a court of law, the settlement previously agreed is not binding.

"Chelsea is in contact with Lyn and looks forward to working positively with them to resolve the claim promptly."

Since his move to Stamford Bridge, Mikel has made more than 50 league appearances for the club.

And after largely playing as an understudy to veteran holding midfielder Claude Makelele in his first two seasons in west London, Mikel has now forced his way into a regular first-team spot under new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.