Chelsea fans are no strangers to multiple monikers given their recent history of Brazilian talents, but it’s not often that an established Stamford Bridge star makes an official name change midway through their career.

Mikel was born John Michael Nchekwube Obinna (the son of Michael Obi) in 1987, but a mistake in 2003 changed things for the midfielder.

During the registration process for the 2003 Fifa Under-17 World Championships, the Nigeria Football Association mistakenly submitted ‘Michael’ as ‘Mikel’ for the tournament in Finland.

The competition ended in disappointment as Nigeria failed to qualify from their group despite Mikel scoring during a win against Australia, but the midfielder decided to keep his new name.

Read more Chelsea's John Obi Mikel to miss start of Premier League season after being included in Nigeria squad for 2016 Rio Olympics

The Chelsea midfielder says the mistake had a “special ring to it,” and from joining Chelsea in 2006 he went by ‘Mikel John Obi’ instead of ‘John Obi Mikel.’

And the midfielder has now decided to officially change his full name to Mikel John Obi.

But Chelsea fans need not worry about their new 2016/17 replica shirts need not worry as ‘Mikel/12’ will stay on the jersey.

Mikel will miss the start of the new Premier League season, instead representing Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympics as one of the Super Eagles’ three designated over-23 players.

Rio 2016 Olympic Games Venues - In pictures 41 show all Rio 2016 Olympic Games Venues - In pictures 1/41 The sun rises behind the Christ the Redeemer statue, above the Guanabara bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi Felipe Dana/AP 2/41 Olympic Park Aerial view of the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi Getty Images 3/41 Olympic Village Aerial view of the Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro Leo Correa/AP 4/41 Olympic Village Aerial view of the Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro Getty Images 5/41 Athletics Aerial view of the Joao Havelange Stadium, locally known as Engenhao in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Engenhao will host Track and Field events Getty Images 6/41 Athletics Olympic Stadium Getty Images 7/41 Swimming & Water Polo Olympic Aquatics Stadium Getty Images 8/41 Golf Aerial view of the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro 9/41 Diving Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 10/41 Cycling Olympic Velodrome at Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 11/41 Beach Volleyball Olympic Beach Volleyball Arena on Copacabana beach 12/41 Table Tennis RioCentro Pavillion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 13/41 Tennis Olympic Tennis Center 14/41 BMX, Mountain Biking and Whitewater Stadium Aerial view of the Olympic BMX Centre and the Whitewater Stadium AFP/Getty Images 15/41 Whitewater, BMX and Mountain Biking Aerial view of the X-Park section inside Deodoro Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 16/41 Table Tennis RioCentro Pavillion Getty Images 17/41 Weightlifting and Table Tennis Riocentro Getty Images 18/41 Weightlifting Getty Images 19/41 Handball Future Arena of Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 20/41 Pentathlon Youth Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 21/41 Hockey Olympic Hockey Centre at Deodoro Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 22/41 Fencing Arena Carioca 3 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 23/41 Wrestling Carioca Arena 1 at Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 24/41 Sailing Marina da Gloria, the Sugar Loaf and Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 25/41 Gymnastics Rio Olympic Arena Getty Images 26/41 Boxing RioCentro Getty Images 27/41 Basketball Arena Carioca 1 at Olympic Park Getty Images 28/41 Equestrian Centre Aerial view of the Olympic Equestrian Centre with its jumping and dressage arena, cross-country course and horse and trainer accommodation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games AFP/Getty Images 29/41 Shooting Olympic Shooting Center in Deodoro Olympic Park Getty Images 30/41 Marathon Swim and Triathlon Aerial view of Fort Copacabana and Copacabana Beach Getty Images 31/41 Canoe Slalom Whitewater Stadium Getty Images 32/41 Canoe Sprint and Rowing Rodrigo de Freitas Lake Getty Images 33/41 Rowing Aerial view of Logoa Stadium, site of the rowing venue on Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas Getty Images 34/41 Canoe Sprint and Rowing Rodrigo de Freitas Lake Getty Images 35/41 Volleyball Carioca Arena 1 Getty Images 36/41 Volleyball Carioca Arena 1 Getty Images 37/41 Archery Sapucai Sambodrome Getty Images 38/41 Synchronized swimming Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre Getty Images 39/41 Rugby Deodoro Olympic Park 40/41 Judo Carioca Area 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 41/41 Taekwondo Carioca Area 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 1/41 The sun rises behind the Christ the Redeemer statue, above the Guanabara bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi Felipe Dana/AP 2/41 Olympic Park Aerial view of the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi Getty Images 3/41 Olympic Village Aerial view of the Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro Leo Correa/AP 4/41 Olympic Village Aerial view of the Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro Getty Images 5/41 Athletics Aerial view of the Joao Havelange Stadium, locally known as Engenhao in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Engenhao will host Track and Field events Getty Images 6/41 Athletics Olympic Stadium Getty Images 7/41 Swimming & Water Polo Olympic Aquatics Stadium Getty Images 8/41 Golf Aerial view of the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro 9/41 Diving Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 10/41 Cycling Olympic Velodrome at Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 11/41 Beach Volleyball Olympic Beach Volleyball Arena on Copacabana beach 12/41 Table Tennis RioCentro Pavillion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 13/41 Tennis Olympic Tennis Center 14/41 BMX, Mountain Biking and Whitewater Stadium Aerial view of the Olympic BMX Centre and the Whitewater Stadium AFP/Getty Images 15/41 Whitewater, BMX and Mountain Biking Aerial view of the X-Park section inside Deodoro Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 16/41 Table Tennis RioCentro Pavillion Getty Images 17/41 Weightlifting and Table Tennis Riocentro Getty Images 18/41 Weightlifting Getty Images 19/41 Handball Future Arena of Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 20/41 Pentathlon Youth Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 21/41 Hockey Olympic Hockey Centre at Deodoro Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 22/41 Fencing Arena Carioca 3 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 23/41 Wrestling Carioca Arena 1 at Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 24/41 Sailing Marina da Gloria, the Sugar Loaf and Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 25/41 Gymnastics Rio Olympic Arena Getty Images 26/41 Boxing RioCentro Getty Images 27/41 Basketball Arena Carioca 1 at Olympic Park Getty Images 28/41 Equestrian Centre Aerial view of the Olympic Equestrian Centre with its jumping and dressage arena, cross-country course and horse and trainer accommodation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games AFP/Getty Images 29/41 Shooting Olympic Shooting Center in Deodoro Olympic Park Getty Images 30/41 Marathon Swim and Triathlon Aerial view of Fort Copacabana and Copacabana Beach Getty Images 31/41 Canoe Slalom Whitewater Stadium Getty Images 32/41 Canoe Sprint and Rowing Rodrigo de Freitas Lake Getty Images 33/41 Rowing Aerial view of Logoa Stadium, site of the rowing venue on Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas Getty Images 34/41 Canoe Sprint and Rowing Rodrigo de Freitas Lake Getty Images 35/41 Volleyball Carioca Arena 1 Getty Images 36/41 Volleyball Carioca Arena 1 Getty Images 37/41 Archery Sapucai Sambodrome Getty Images 38/41 Synchronized swimming Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre Getty Images 39/41 Rugby Deodoro Olympic Park 40/41 Judo Carioca Area 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 41/41 Taekwondo Carioca Area 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images

The midfielder has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League and four FA Cups at Stamford Bridge, as well as lifting the Africa Cup of Nations in his 75-cap Nigeria career.