John Mikel Obi is set to join English Championship side Stoke City on a one-year deal according to the BBC.

The 33-year-old former Super Eagles captain, has been without a club having left Turkish side Trabzonspor by mutual consent in March.

He had been linked with a move to South America and even hinted that he was open to playing in the Egyptian Premier League but now seems set on a return to the Championship where he played for Middlesbrough in 2019.

Stoke already have another Nigerian Oghenekaro Etebo in their ranks but the midfielder appears surplus to requirements and spent half of last season on loan at La Liga side Getafe.

The move marks a return to English football for Mikel who had a trophy-laden 11 years at Chelsea where he made 249 Premier League appearances, winning the Champions League and Europa League, two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups and the League Cup with the London side.

He joined Chinese side Tianjin TEDA in 2017 after leaving Chelsea and had his first stint in the Championship with Middlesbrough in 2019.

Mikel won 89 caps for Nigeria, playing in two World Cups and helping the Super Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, before announcing his retirement from international football last summer after leading Nigeria to a third place finish at the 2019 AFCON.