Posted by English Premier League legend Rio Ferdinand has named Ghanaian and erstwhile Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien in his top five English Premier League African Players of all time.
Rio Ferdinand made the revelation in a tweet posted after Senegalese international Sadio Mane sealed a £35.1 million move from Liverpool to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The Manchester United legend named Didier Drogba, Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane, Yaya Toure and Michael Essien as his top five African stars to play in the English Premier League.
“I’m going…” Ferdinand teased. “In no particular order; [Didier] Drogba, Salah, Mane, Yaya Toure, [Michael] Essien.” Ferdinand added: “Raaaaaa this is hard yenoooo. [Riyad] Mahrez won some trophies. I loved Jay-Jay [Okocha] also… mad player,” he said in a tweet.
I’m going… I’m no particular order;
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 22, 2022
Drogba
Salah
Mane
Yaya Toure
Essien
Thoughts?! 👀 https://t.co/WZdglCGUGK
Big respect to my guy @iambolar for getting involved! https://t.co/HG2ECxKCgZ
I loved Jay Jay also… mad player 💥
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 22, 2022
Michael Essien played for Chelsea for eight seasons and made 168 league appearances. He scored 17 goals, provided 10 assists and won two league trophies.
The Ghana legend who played as a defensive midfielder also won other trophies with the club, which include; a Champions League trophy, multiple FA Cups and so on.