Michael Essien Chelsea, Ghana - From humble beginnings at Liberty Professional in Accra, Essien has a combination of extremely power, great energy and stamina to match undoubted skill.

Micheal Essien has proved to be a commanding midfield presence for Chelsea since signing from Lyon for £24.4m in August 2005.

Essien sometimes plays in central defence for Ghana and right full back for chealsea.  Michael had tasted success early in his career as he picked up a gold medal with Ghana at the African Under-17 Championship and a bronze medal at World Under-17 Championships.

He moved to France in 2001 when joining Bastia from Liberty Professionals Ghana ( former mate of Sulley Muntari ), reaching the French Cup final in his debut season.
That same year he had won another medal - a silver at World Youth Championships.
The midfielder made his full debut for Ghana at the 2002 African Cup of Nations.

Lyon made their move for Essien in 2003, after he had made 66 appearances and scored 11 goals for Bastia.
Essien's first season with Lyon saw him pick up his first championship medal, a feat he repeated in 2004/05 as the club also reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
He was voted Player of the Year by France's National Union of Professional Footballers in 2004/05.