What Ever Happened To The Youngster Who Signed For Chelsea In 2007

In 2007, Chelsea signed promising youngster Gael Kakuta from Lens and were accused of tapping him up by the French side, resulting on a two-window transfer ban that was eventually suspended upon Chelsea's appeal.

The Blues were reported to FIFA by Lens and the player and club were both punished, but they were cleared of any wrongdoing by the Court of Arbitration, and Kakuta was then allowed to get on with his career at Stamford Bridge.

Football Manager wonderkids who flopped:

Having earned rave reviews from Michael Ballack, and dubbed "the future of Chelsea" by Carlo Ancelotti when the Italian was in charge, it's fair to say Kakuta's career hasn't gone as planned.

Image: PA

The youngest player to play for Chelsea in the Champions League, he only made six Premier League appearances for the club and was formed out on loan six times.

At first, he had brief spells with both Fulham and Bolton in the Premier League, before a temporary stint with Dijon back in France followed.

Image: PA

He then got the mandatory loan to Chelsea's feeder club Vitesse, where he made a total of 40 appearances. Kakuta then dipped his toe in Serie A with Lazio and then embarked on another new league in La Liga when he turned out 35 times for Madrid-based outfit Rayo Vallecano.

When he was released by Chelsea in 2015, Sevilla, having been impressed by his displays at Rayo, snapped him up on a four-year deal but the downward spiral continued and he made just five appearances for the Andalusian side after falling out with Unai Emery.

The DR Congo international became one of a plethora of players to join the riches of the Chinese Super League when he signed for Hebei China Fortune, currently managed by former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini.

He's still contracted to them but has been loaned out twice - to Deportivo La Coruna last term as well as Amiens in France this season - continuing a very bizarre career path for the 26-year old.

With 11 clubs, including eight loan spells, Kakuta is well on his way to becoming the new Freddy Adu if his career doesn't have a rapid turnaround.

Topics: Football News, Rayo Vallecano, Chelsea, Football, Vitesse, Premier League, Fulham, La Liga

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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