The Rise and Fall of Medi Abalimba: From Footballer to Fraudster

Did you know that someone can go from a future football star to a fraudster? Medi Abalimba was at one time thought to be a brilliant upcoming talent in football, but his life took a shocking turn.

Rather than making waves for playing football, his name made its way into the headlines for masquerading as many different celebrities and living a lavish lifestyle.

His story is a mix of talent, bad choices, and the consequences of deception. We’ll focus on the rise and fall of Abalimba and his transition from football dreams to crime in this article.

Birth, Parents, and Education of Medi Abalimba

Medi Abalimba was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His birth date is October 14, 1992. He and his family moved to the United Kingdom when he was five years old to escape the rising tensions in their home country. They later on settled in London, which is where Medi spent his early childhood years.

Information about Medi’s parents and their occupations is not publicly available. Nonetheless, it is understood that his family financially backed his desire to play football from an early age. Medi demonstrated potential as a footballer and trained with several top English clubs, even Manchester United.

Little is known regarding Medi’s education. However, it is known that ever since he was young, his primary focus was on advancing in his football career.

Career of Medi Abalimba

The story of Abalimba and football was marked by optimism. He had great promise as a footballer and trained at top English clubs, even Manchester United.

When he was 16 in 2009, he signed for a Championship club in England called Derby County. Although he showed a lot of potential, he was unable to secure a first-team place. Searching for more opportunities, he had a trial with Southend United in 2010 but ended up not being offered a contract.

In 2011 Medi made the switch to Oldham Athletic. Like many other young, talented players, he did not have a major impact at the club and withered away in the lower tiers of English football.

After Oldham, Medi spent some time playing for non-league clubs like Farnborough in the 2012/13 season. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t revive his professional career. ​

By 2014, at the age of 22, Medi retired from professional football. His early promise remained unfulfilled, leading him to pursue other ventures.

The Fall of Medi Abalimba

Upon the conclusion of his premature football career, it was clear he was dangerously low on cash, so Medi Abalimba took to a life of crime. To escape the reality of affording nothing, fake it until you make it was the motto. And the ex-footballer impersonated a Chelsea footballer, Gael Kakuta, to live a lavish life he couldn’t.

Hiding under the Kakuta guise allowed a different lifestyle for Abalimba; now he could stay in expensive hotels, feast on lavish meals, even drive expensive cars without paying a dime.

He hired private jets and accumulated hefty bar tabs, all in the name of Kakuta.

In 2014, Medi was caught and confessed to multiple fraud charges amounting to £163,000. For his crimes, he was sentenced to four years in prison.

Regardless of the time served, Medi still committed fraud after his release. This time his victims were celebrities like Michigan reality television star Georgia Steel and Claire Merry, ex-wife of footballer Thierry Henry. He pretended to be an influential, moneyed gentleman and scammed them to pocket thousands.

In early 2023, Medi was convicted again for multiple fraud offences and sentenced to over four years in prison. However, he breached his parole conditions by fleeing the UK, prompting an international manhunt.

Authorities discovered he had changed his name to Michi Jordan and was travelling on a new passport. He was arrested in the USA and extradited to the UK in January 2025. He will remain in prison until October 2026. ​

Despite the public nature of the case, there is no public record of Kakuta commenting on Abalimba’s actions. Kakuta has maintained his privacy regarding this matter, focusing on his football career. Therefore, any statements or reactions from Kakuta about Abalimba’s impersonation are not available in the public domain.​

Social Media Presence

Medi Abalimba does not maintain any known public social media profiles. His online presence is primarily documented through news articles and reports detailing his criminal activities.

There are no verified accounts or personal profiles associated with him on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. This lack of personal social media activity aligns with his history of deception, where he often assumed false identities to commit fraud.

Therefore, any social media accounts bearing his name are likely unauthorized or unrelated to him.

Conclusion

Medi Abalimba’s story is one of lost potential and bad decisions. Once a talented footballer, he chose a path of fraud instead of working towards success. His actions caught up with him, leading to multiple prison sentences. His story is a reminder that dishonesty never leads to a good outcome.