Gaël Kakuta has left Turkish side Sakaryaspor and is now a free agent after his contract expired, with the attacking midfielder officially listed as “Without Club” following a transfer registered on 2026-02-06. The move was completed without a transfer fee, reflecting the end of his deal rather than a sale, and comes at a time when his current market value is recorded at €350k.
The 34-year-old, who operates primarily as an attacking midfielder, departs Sakaryaspor after a spell in Türkiye’s 1. Lig. His exit means he is immediately available to sign for a new employer, opening the door to another move abroad away from the countries of his nationalities, DR Congo and France. With no club attached and no league yet confirmed, his next destination is entirely open.
Kakuta’s switch to free agency closes the latest chapter in a notably nomadic career. Born in Lille and standing 1.73m tall, he came through RC Lens’ youth ranks before moving to Chelsea’s academy. He was promoted from Chelsea FC U18 to the senior Chelsea FC squad, which triggered a long sequence of loans and permanent transfers that took him across Europe and Asia. Over the years he played in the Premier League with Chelsea and Bolton Wanderers, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 with Dijon FCO, Amiens SC and RC Lens, LaLiga and Spain’s second tier with Rayo Vallecano and Deportivo de La Coruña, Serie A with SS Lazio, the Eredivisie with Vitesse Arnhem, the Chinese Super League with Hebei FC (2010–2023), the Iranian league with Esteghlal FC, and most recently the Turkish 1. Lig with Sakaryaspor.
His market value trajectory underlines both the high expectations and the fluctuating nature of his career. Once valued as high as €8m during his standout period at RC Lens, his current €350k valuation mirrors his status as a veteran creative midfielder in the later stages of his career. Even so, his technical quality and left foot remain key assets for clubs seeking experience and invention between the lines.
At international level, Kakuta is listed with DR Congo and France as his nationalities, having been developed in the French system before representing DR Congo at senior level. That dual background has long made him a point of interest for supporters in both countries, and his availability on a free is likely to be followed closely by fans who have tracked his journey from highly rated teenager at Chelsea to seasoned professional across multiple continents.
Kakuta’s immediate future now depends on which club moves quickest to secure his signature. With his registration freed from any contractual ties as of 2026-02-06, he can negotiate directly and potentially add yet another country and league to an already extensive CV. However his next step unfolds, this transition to free agency will be a decisive moment in shaping the closing years of a career that has taken him from Lille to London, Madrid, Rome, Beijing, Tehran and beyond.
