Michael Essien

Personal information
Full name	Michael Kojo Essien
Date of birth	December 3, 1982 (age 27)
Place of birth	Accra, Ghana
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Playing position	Midfielder Defender
Club information
Current club	Chelsea
Number	5
Youth career
1999–2000	Liberty Professionals
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2003	Bastia	65	(11)
2003–2005	Lyon	71	(7)
2005–	Chelsea	116	(14)
National team‡
2002–	Ghana	51	(9)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:32, 10/2/2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:50, 10/2/2010 (UTC)