John Obi Mikel officially changes his name and now we're all confused

Why are you doing this to us, John?

John Obi Mikel. No wait, Mikel John Obi.

 

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel is clearing up the confusion that's apparently existed about his name.
Mikel's real name, it turns out, has actually always been John Michael Nchekwube Obinna. Until now, that is, because he's officially changing it to Mikel John Obi.
Get all that? Neither do we.

Let's start at the beginning. In 2003, the Nigerian FA birthed this entire mix-up when it misspelled the longtime Blues midfielder's name while registering him for the Under-17 World Cup, writing Mikel on the form instead of Michael.

But John (let's just call him John for now) liked the "special ring" to his new name so much, he decided to keep it. Ever since joining Chelsea in 2006, we've known him as John Obi Mikel, though according to the Evening Standard he personally always preferred Mikel John Obi. (He's also been known as John Mikel Obi, naturally, to make things even more difficult). Now, 10 years later, he's finally made it official.

Mikel is set to miss the start of the new season for Chelsea as he's participating for Nigeria in the Rio Olympics instead. Let's just hope the Super Eagles didn't mess his registration up again.