Greek giants ordered to pay €419,000 to Michael Essien as compensation

Greek giants Panathinaikos will reportedly have to pay a hefty sum of €419,000 in order to ongoing dispute between Michael Essien and the club's board.

The former Chelsea man was surprisingly released from his contract in September last year, and he had therein opened up a case with the Greens after they declined to pay him the severance package.

Panathinaikos denied any sum owed to the Ghanaian legend, and he eventually took the club to the FA for their failure to honour the payment plan. Following an extended enquiry on the case, a verdict was released with the Greens ordered to pay a fee of €419,000 to Essien, who is currently playing in Indonesia.

"The Primary Committee for resolving Economic Disputes of EPO during last meeting took the following decision (315/2017) regarding the appeal of football player Michael Essien against Panathinaikos FC. Judge are adversarial. Accepts, by majority vote, partly the appeal. Rejects what was deemed rejected.

Obliges the Prof ' to pay the applicant the sum total of four hundred and eighteen thousand and seventy five euro (418,975), with statutory interest on arrears from the 23/12/2016, date of filing of the appeal until full repayment," the verdict read.

The Champions League winner joined Indonesian club Persib Bandung earlier in the year, and he is currently the league's highest-paid player at $647000 a year. A presence of a player of Essien'scalibre would undoubtedly attract move players to the Far East nation, and this was one of the key reasons behind the Ghanaian's intention to sign a 12 month contract with Persib.

Ex- Aston Villa striker Carlton Cole also plays alongside Essien at Persib while Peter Odemwingie, formerly of West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City, has made the biggest impression of them all with 11 goals in 12 outings.