In a Sky Sports documentary titled “How Africa changed the Premier League,” Ghanaian legend Michael Essien expresses his deep satisfaction at realizing his dream of representing Ghana in the English Premier League.
Essien, a significant signing during Roman Abramovic’s ownership, made a £24.4 million move from Olympique Lyon to Chelsea in 2005.
Throughout his impressive eight-year stint with the club, the defensive midfielder secured major triumphs, including two Premier League titles, two FA Cup titles, and the esteemed UEFA Champions League.
Reflecting on his journey, Essien shares the fulfillment of playing in the Premier League and representing Ghana on that prestigious stage.
He highlights the physical nature of the league at the time but expresses that adapting to it was not a challenge for him, showcasing his football prowess.
“My dream was to play in the Premier League and when the opportunity came I jumped on it and it was great to represent Ghana in the Premier League.”
“It was very physical at the time and that was part of my football. It was not difficult for me to adapt and I showed that.”