Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has premiered his advertisement for one of the leading start-ups in Indonesia with the former Chelsea ace expected to make speculated $250,000 for his effort for the thriving company Gojek, Ghanasoccernet.com can reveal.
The appearance of the former Chelsea and Real Madrid star in the advert is set to catapult Gojek to global prominence thanks to image on the international football stage.
Following Essien's heroics for one of the top clubs in Indonesia, Gojek, a hyperlocal transport, logistics and payments start-up will also be boosted in its target market of Indonesia.
The advert is likely to earn the Ghanaian close to $250,000 with further activation planned for the Persib star.
In the ad, Essien tells about his life since moving to Persib. In a new environment, he admitted to being helped by the service of Gojek.
Various services provided by Gojek are used by Essien - from Go-Ride, Go-Pay, Go-Food, to Go-Clean. And at the end, the ad, Essien scored a goal.
Essien, who has also played for Real Madrid and AC Milan, is the highest profile signing for Indonesian football since Cameroon World Cup hero Roger Milla and Argentine World Cup winner Mario Kempes played in the country in the 1990s.
The midfielder has been a free agent since leaving Greek club Panathinaikos at the end of last season.
He won the Champions League, two Premier League titles and four FA Cups during nine seasons at Chelsea.
Essien also played at two World Cups for Ghana, who he represented 58 times, before retiring in the wake of the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
Based in Bandung in West Java, Persib are one of the best supported clubs in Indonesia and finished third in the recently completed President's Cup.
GO-JEK is an Indonesian hyperlocal transport, logistics and payments startup founded in 2010.
It aims to improve the welfare of workers in Indonesia’s vast informal sector.
It is also the first startup of Indonesian origin to be classified as a transport system[1][2][3] after closing a round of funding in August 2016.
GO-JEK's fleet now exceeds 200,000 drivers and includes motorcycles, cars and trucks.
People in 25 cities in Indonesia can now hail a ride via GO-JEK.