Former Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has recounted an incident from the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the Netherlands, where he was approached with a cash offer to sign for a European club.
Speaking during a recent podcast interview, Mikel said officials of the Nigeria Football Association had instructed players to reject approaches from agents during the tournament in the Netherlands.
According to Mikel, that directive was tested when an agent claiming to represent Dutch club Ajax arrived at the team's hotel with a briefcase containing $500,000 in cash. The 38-year-old said the agent told him, "I want to change your life if you sign for us." Mikel was 18 at the time and had just emerged as one of the standout players at the tournament, where Nigeria finished as runners-up.
Mikel did not accept the offer. He went on to become the subject of a highly publicized transfer dispute between Manchester United and Chelsea in 2005 and 2006, eventually joining Chelsea where he made over 350 appearances and won two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Mikel has previously described receiving multiple cash offers as a teenager, including a separate incident he said involved about £50,000, and said the pressure from agents and clubs began immediately after his performances at youth level.