In an effort to popularize its domestic league, Persib Bandung, one of Indonesia’s high ranked teams based in Bandung in West Java, has signed Micheal Essien.
The former Chelsea and Ghana Midfielder signed a one-year deal with the option to extend his contract.
Essien told the club’s website,
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Thank you for bringing me here. I’m excited and want to give my best.”[/perfectpullquote]
The 34-year-old’s move to one of the best-supported clubs in Indonesia is a step forward to market the team and open its doors to attract other world star players. Persib finished third in the recently concluded President’s Cup.
Teddy Tjahyono, part of the Persib Bandung management, said,
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”The reason to bring Michael Essien is in order to increase the value of competition in Indonesia, opening the door to the other world players to strengthen the team in Indonesia.[/perfectpullquote]
“The process to bring in players to this part of the world is quite difficult. It took months to negotiate.”
Essien becomes the highest profile signing in Indonesia’s domestic league with the last star names being Cameroon World Cup hero Roger Milla and Argentine World Cup winner Mario Kempes who played in the 1990s
Also, a former Real Madrid and AC Milan player, Essien who featured in two World Cups with 58 caps for Ghana prior to his retirement in 2014, has been a club free agent since he left Panathinaikos in Greece at the end of last season.
Indonesia’s new league season is yet to start pending an official announcement of the start date.
Featured photo: Timur Matahari
