The notorious scammer known as the Football Fraudster, who was featured in a popular Netflix documentary, has once again found himself back in custody after illegally leaving the UK. Medi Abalimba, who posed as a Premier League footballer to deceive his victims, including notable personalities such as Thierry Henry’s ex-wife and Love Island contestant Georgia Steel, managed to persuade them to pay for extravagant luxuries like stays in upscale hotels, helicopter trips, and travel to various parts of the world, according to Derbyshire Police.
Initially sentenced to four years and two months in 2021, Abalimba was released but subsequently fled the UK early in 2023, violating the conditions of his release. An investigation discovered his whereabouts in the US, leading to his extradition back to the UK, where he was promptly returned to prison and is set to remain there until October 2026 as per police reports.
Prior to his criminal activities, Abalimba had a brief career as a professional footballer, having played for clubs such as Derby County, Oldham Athletic, and Crystal Palace, among others. Despite once attracting a £1 million fee, his career did not progress as hoped, prompting him to engage in fraudulent activities. This culminated in a four-year jail term in 2014 for impersonating France youth international Gael Kakuta and committing multiple counts of fraud.
Following his release, Abalimba resumed his deceptive practices, resulting in another imprisonment in 2021 for 15 fraud-related charges. The subsequent Netflix documentary titled The Football Fraudster shed light on his deceitful actions, featuring testimonies from individuals who had fallen victim to his scams, including Claire Merry, the former wife of Thierry Henry, and reality TV personality Georgia Steel
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