Former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi is heading back to English football with Championship club Middlesbrough.

 Mikel, 31, who is a free agent after mutually terminating his contract with Chinese Super League side TEDA Tianjin this month, has reportedly passed a medical at the Teeside.

Daily Star UK claims that the Nigerian was also on the want-list of Derby County who are coached by Mikel's former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard before he undergone a medical at Boro.

The Super Eagles captain who was previously linked with Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace, is willing to lower his wages to join Boro as he wants to be closer to his young family in the U.K.

The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist is no stranger to English football, having made 249 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, after spending over a decade at Stamford Bridge.

And going by his experience in the game, having won important titles for club and country, most especially the Champions League and the Africa Cup of Nations, Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis hopes to convince Mikel to move to the Riverside.

Boro are fifth on the Championship standing with 47 points from 28 matches, seven adrift of league leaders Leeds United and they are hopeful of securing a playoff spot.