Former Ghana national team captain Michael Essien is in serious financial problems, as two of his properties are likely to be auctioned off following a court order.
Essien was sanctioned by the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court’s Commercial Division on June 12, 2024, for properties in prestigious districts of Accra, Ghana.
The homes for sale are located at Stephen Quarshie Crescent, East Legon, House Number 9 and House Number 204/205, Trassaco (Phase 2) Adjiringano.
According to an auctioneer who preferred to remain anonymous, one of these estates is worth between $20 million and $30 million.
Despite Essien’s excellent football career, which included stints at top European clubs and huge revenues, he is now facing financial difficulties.
“It’s important to note that Michael Essien hasn’t taken out a loan. There’s been misinformation about him being indebted due to various loans, but in reality, it was a mortgage agreement signed during his playing days,” Ghanaian journalist Saddick Adams explained.
Reflecting on his career, Essien started his career with Liberty Professionals in Ghana before moving to France to join SC Bastia in 2000.
Three years later, he transferred to Olympique Lyonnais in France, where he won back-to-back league titles in 2003-04 and 2004-05, earning himself the Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2005.
Come 2005, Essien joined Chelsea FC in the Premier League for a then club-record transfer fee of £24.4 million, making him the most expensive African footballer at the time.
At Chelsea, Essien was a key player, helping the club win 2 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League.
During his stint at Chelsea, he was named Chelsea’s Player of the Year in 2007.
Essien also had a one-season loan spell at Real Madrid before later playing for AC Milan, Panathinaikos, and clubs in Indonesia and Azerbaijan before retiring in 2020.
Internationally, Essien represented Ghana at youth levels, winning bronze at the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Cup and finishing as runners-up at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship.