Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has left Turkish side Trabzonspor by mutual consent after saying he was not comfortable playing matches during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Super Lig team confirmed in a statement that the Nigerian, who joined them last year and had a contract until May 2021, had left by mutual consent.
"There is more to life than football," Mikel, 32, had said on Instagram on Saturday. "I do not feel comfortable and don't want to play football in this situation. Everyone should be home with their families and loved ones in this critical time.
"Season should be cancelled as the world is facing such turbulent times."
Mikel spent 11 years at Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League. The midfielder, who started his career at Norwegian club Lyn, has also played for Chinese side Tianjin Teda and English second-tier team Middlesbrough. He was capped 89 times by Nigeria before calling time on his international career last year.
The big five leagues in Europe - England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France - as well as the Champions League and Europa League, have all been suspended, but Turkish league games are going ahead without fans present.
The virus has also forced the postponement of the European Championship and Copa America. It has also affected a host of other international events. The latest number of total confirmed cases is 185,067, with 7,330 deaths and 80,236 recoveries.
