Gael Kakuta
Profession: Footballer
Born: June 21, 1991
Age: 34 years old
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lille, France
Known for: Winger for the Congolese national team
Biography
Gael kakuta is a Congolese professional footballer and a winger known for his exceptional dribbling skills, close ball control, quick feet, creativity and flair.
Kakuta was born in Lille, France to parents from Democratic Republic of Congo. He grew up with his older brother as his younger sister passed away in 2019.
He began his career at the youth level with US Lille-Moulins and went through the youth academy of Lens and Chelsea.
He was promoted to the Chelsea senior team but was barely used in matches. He made his Premier League debut in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on November 21, 2009, where he came on as a substitute for Nicolas Anelka. He was loaned out to different teams at different times, from Fulham to Bolton Wanderers, Dijon, Vitesse, Lazio, and Rayo Vallecano.
Kakuta eventually signed a four-year contract with the Spanish club Sevilla on June 19, 2005, after which he transferred to the Chinese club Hebei China Fortune on February 6, 2014.
He went on loan to Deportivo La Coruna and Amiens from 2017 to 2018 before signing a four-year deal with Rayo Vallecano on July 13, 2018. He made only 13 appearances during his time at Rayo Vallecano and scored only one goal as the club went on relegation.
He returned back to Amiens on a free transfer on August 9, 2019. He later joined Lens again on a one-year loan deal with an option to make it permanent, on July 9, 2020. He scored his first goal for the club on his debut in a 2-1 loss to Nice. His move to Lens was eventually made permanent on May 26 2021, as the club exercised the buy option in his deal.
He signed for Amiens for the third time, which was a four-year contract, on October 5, 2022.
He joined the Iranian football club Esteghlal for one season from 2024 to 2025 and later signed for the Turkish club Sakaryaspor in 2025.
He played for France at the youth stage from the under-16 to under-21 levels. He decided to represent Dr Congo in 2017, and made his debut for the DR Congo national team in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Kenya. He was also part of the Dr Congo squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Kakuta was married to the French influencer Lucie Gabossi and they have three children together namely; Maël, Téa, Noé.
Career Timeline
- 1998-1999 – US Lille-Moulins (youth)
- 1999-2007 – Lens (youth)
- 2007-2009 – Chelsea (youth)
- 2009-2015 – Chelsea
- 2011-2011 – Fulham (loan) – 7 apps, 1 goal
- 2011-2012 – Bolton Wanderers – 4 apps
- 2012-2012 – Dijon (loan) – 14 apps, 4 goals
- 2012-2014 – Vitesse (loan) – 34 apps, 2 goals
- 2014-2014 – Lazio (loan) – 1 apps
- 2014-2015 – Rayo Vallecano (loan) – 35 apps, 5 goals
- 2015-2016 – Sevilla – 2 apps
- 2016-2018 – Hebei China Fortune – 24 apps, 2 goals
- 2017-2017 – Deportivo La Coruña (loan) – 10 apps, 2 goals
- 2017-2018- Amiens (loan) – 36 apps, 6 goals
- 2018-2019 – Rayo Vallecano – 12 apps, 1 goal
- 2019-2021 – Amiens – 24 apps, 2 goals
- 2020-2021 – Lens (loan) – 35 apps, 11 goals
- 2021-2022 – Lens – 31 apps, 3 goals
- 2022-2024 – Amiens- 43 apps, 10 goals
- 2024-2025 – Esteghlal – 13 apps
- 2025 – Sakaryaspor
Personal Details
- Alternative name: Gaël Romeo Kakuta Mambenga
- Nationality: Congolese, French
- Religion: Christianity
- Height: 1.72 m
- Partner: Lucie Gabossi (ex)
- Children: Maël, Téa, Noé
- Official website: Instagram – @gaelromeokakuta
Trivia
- His full name is Gaël Romeo Kakuta Mambenga.
- He began playing football at the age of seven.
- He was mentored by the Ivorian player Didier Drogba when he first moved to England.
- He won FA Cup with Chelsea in 2009-2010.
- He has Balance 76 and Ball control 71 on efootball.
- He became a victim of identity theft in 2014 when Medi Abalimba spent thousands of pounds using his credit cards.
- He earns a salary of £6,200 per week playing for Sakaryaspor.
- He has a market value of €500k according to Transfermarkt.
