Michael Essien his contract on 12 March 2007. It was feared Essien would miss the 2008–09 Premier League season after sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage on 5 September while playing for Ghana. However, on 7 March 2009, he came on as a substitute in the second half of the FA Cup match against Coventry City. In his second match back from the knee injury, Essien scored just before half-time to give Chelsea a vital away goal against Juventus in the Champions League first knockout round. Chelsea went on the draw the match 2–2 and through to the quarter-finals 3–2 on aggregate. He
Emmanuel "Mannie" Essien signed to Rayramon Records Australia, and released his debut single in 2015 called "Moving On" featuring musician Ray Ramon and DJ Andromeda from the U.K. The music was co-written by Jenny Ramon from Australia. "Moving On" has received airplay on radio stations in Nigeria, Australia, and the UK. In 2014, his show "Good Morning Nigeria Show" was awarded the most outstanding radio show in the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards. He also won favourite On Air Personality at Hollywood's Nickelodeon Kids Choice awards in Hollywood USA in March, 2015. Essien is married to Grace Edewede Essien with whom he has two