Fake Gaël Kakuta: Former Liverpool Trainee Arrested in Bizarre Impersonation Scam
By BBC News Staff
In a case echoing previous high-profile impersonation scandals, a former footballer trained at Liverpool has been arrested for posing as French footballer Gaël Kakuta to defraud luxury establishments across the UK, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
The suspect, 25-year-old Medi Abalimba, of Congolese origin, was taken into custody by Manchester police after allegedly racking up thousands of euros in unpaid bills. Abalimba is accused of dining in luxury hotels, shopping at high-end boutiques, and frequenting exclusive nightclubs—all while claiming to be Kakuta, the Franco-Congolese midfielder who was at the time on loan from Chelsea to Spanish club Rayo Vallecano.
The deception reportedly continued for months, with Abalimba using Kakuta’s name to gain VIP treatment and credit. He managed to convince staff at multiple venues of his false identity, exploiting the real player’s reputation to avoid payment for services and goods.
His scheme unraveled in a somewhat cinematic fashion. According to police sources cited by the Daily Mail, Abalimba was finally tracked down through fingerprints he had unknowingly left on a designer shoe—ironically left behind as a “tip” at a hotel.
Now facing five criminal charges, Abalimba is expected to be tried for fraud and other related offenses. Legal proceedings are underway, and a custodial sentence is likely if he is found guilty.
This strange and cautionary tale follows previous incidents of footballer impersonation, such as the infamous case of a man posing as Ivorian star Yaya Touré. It once again raises questions about the ease with which false identities can be used to exploit fame and privilege.
Gaël Kakuta, the real player caught in this bizarre episode, has yet to publicly comment on the incident.
Reporting by BBC News.
