Who Is Michael Essien? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Born on December 3, 1982, Michael Essien is a prominent Ghanaian former professional football player, renowned for his dynamic playing style and versatility on the field. Essien rose to stardom as a central midfielder, showcasing his skills at clubs like Chelsea FC and Real Madrid, while also being a stalwart member of the Ghana national team.
As of 2025, Michael Essien is 42 years old. He was born in Accra, Ghana, and has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including being a two-time FA Cup winner and a UEFA Champions League victor.
| Occupation | Football Player |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 3, 1982 |
| Age | 42 Years |
| Birth Place | Accra, Ghana |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | Ghana |
Popularity
Michael Essien's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Michael Essien stands approximately 1.78 meters (5 feet 10 inches) tall and maintains an athletic physique weighing around 80 kg (176 lbs). His fit body and disciplined lifestyle are testaments to his years of dedication to professional sports.
- Height: 178 cm (5'10")
- Weight: 80 kg (176 lbs)
- Body Measurements: Not publicly available.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Michael Essien maintains a relatively private personal life. He was previously married to Akosua Puni, with whom he shares two children. However, there have also been rumors and speculations regarding his relationships after their separation. Currently, details about his current dating life remain undisclosed, as Michael tends to keep his personal affairs out of the public eye.
- Ex-Wife: Akosua Puni (marriage ended)
- Children: Two
- Current Relationship Status: Not publicly confirmed.
Born in Accra to Aba Gyandoh and James Essien, Essien attended Gomoa Nyanyano DC Primary and JSS. He began his football career after graduating from St. Augustine's College in Cape Coast, playing at a local club, Liberty Professionals. Essien grew up a boyhood Aston Villa fan, influenced by his father's love for the Birmingham based club.
Essien idolised Paul McGrath modelling many aspects of his game around the midfielder's playing style.
Net Worth and Salary
By 2025, Michael Essien has amassed an impressive net worth estimated to be around $35 million. This wealth comes not only from his successful football career but also from endorsements, business ventures, and investments in various sectors, particularly in sports and real estate.
- Estimated Net Worth: $35 million
- Annual Salary: Undisclosed, but includes earnings from endorsements and business ventures.
On 2 June 2015, Essien signed a two-year contract with Greek club Panathinaikos. The deal made him the club's highest-paid player, with an annual salary of €800,000. He spent the first three months of the season recovering from a leg injury.
He was due to make his debut on 21 November 2015 against Panathinaikos' archrivals Olympiacos, but the match was cancelled. He played his first match one week later. On 24 January 2016, he scored his first goal for Panathinaikos in a 2–0 away league win over Levadiakos.
After a season in Greece, Essien was omitted from Panathinaikos' squad for the 2016–17 season, with the expectation he would be released from his contract. His termination by the club was confirmed almost three months later after the two parties reached a mutual agreement over his release.
Career, Business, and Investments
Essien’s illustrious football career began in the early 2000s, making him one of the most recognizable names in football. His career highlights include stints at clubs like:
- Olympique Lyonnais (2005–2006)
- Chelsea FC (2005–2014)
- Real Madrid (2012–2013, on loan)
- Sassuolo (2014–2015)
- Persib Bandung (2017–2018)
A midfielder, Essien started his career playing for Liberty Professionals in Ghana. In 2000, he moved to France to join Bastia, where he would spend three seasons and appear in over 60 matches before joining Ligue 1 title holders Lyon in 2003.
At Lyon, Essien won back-to-back league titles in 2003–04 and 2004–05, and won Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2005. The same year, Essien signed with Premier League side Chelsea for a £24.4 million transfer fee. The fee made him the most expensive African footballer at that time.
At Chelsea, Essien helped the club win the Premier League in 2006 and 2010, as well as three FA Cups and one League Cup. He won the UEFA Champions League in 2011–12, while also placing as runner-up in the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League. He has won the Chelsea Goal of the Season award twice, in the 2006–07 and 2008–09 seasons.
Social Network
Michael Essien is quite active on social media, where he connects with fans and shares insights into his life post-football. His major platforms include:
- Instagram: @MichaelEssien
- Twitter: @MichaelEssien
Due to missing most of the beginning half of the 2011–12 Premier League season, Essien was unable to gain favour with manager André Villas-Boas. On 21 February 2012, during a Champions League match against Napoli, Villas-Boas left Frank Lampard, Essien and Ashley Cole on the substitutes' bench.
Chelsea lost 3–1 and the club's technical director asked for an explanation of the team selection on behalf of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
On 4 March 2012, following a 1–0 league defeat against West Brom which left Chelsea three points adrift of Arsenal in the battle for fourth place in the Premier League, Villas-Boas' employment was terminated by Chelsea, with assistant manager Roberto Di Matteo being appointed as caretaker manager on an interim basis until the end of the season.
Di Matteo immediately showed favour towards veteran Chelsea players like Essien, Lampard and John Terry.
Subsequently, Essien started in Chelsea's second leg champions league fixture against Napoli, with Chelsea winning 4–1 – and 5–4 on aggregate – in an entertaining match allowing Chelsea to advance to the quarter-final, where they met Benfica.
Essien subsequently remained an unused substitute in Chelsea's Champions League run, culminating in the Blues' victory over Bayern Munich in the final, making Chelsea the first London-based club to win the title.
Education
Although specific details about Michael Essien’s education are less publicized, it is known that he attended local schools in Accra before his football career took off. Subsequent to his international fame, he has also been involved in various educational initiatives aimed at supporting academic excellence in Ghana.
In the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Essien turned in another strong performance, driving the team to the semifinals with his power-packed performances.
In the quarter-final against Nigeria, when team captain John Mensah was dismissed on the stroke of the hour for a professional foul on Nigeria's Peter Odemwingie, Essien assumed the captaincy for the remainder of the match as Ghana eventually won 2–1. He was voted as an All-Star Player during the tournament.
The Team of the Tournament was decided by the Technical Study Group (TSG) after careful observations of all the tournament's matches.
