A PROLIFIC conman who scammed a string of women including a Love Island contestant and Thierry Henry’s ex-wife is back behind bars after being caught in the USA.
Medi Abalimba, 35, became known as “The Football Fraudster” after targeting high-profile victims while posing as a Premier League player.
Medi Abalimba, 35, is back behind bars after being caught in the USA[/caption]
Thierry Henry’s ex-wife Claire was one of his victims[/caption]
The former Liverpool and Man City trialist swindled thousands by tricking women so he could fund a champagne lifestyle of luxury hotels, helicopter trips and travelling the globe.
He became a worldwide name last year after a Netflix documentary in which the Arsenal striker’s former wife Claire Merry and ITV reality show star Georgia Steel revealed how they had been duped.
Abalimba was convicted of a string of fraud offences and was jailed for four years and two months following his most recent conviction in early 2023.
However he breached the conditions of his licence by fleeing the UK sparking an international manhunt.
Derbyshire Constabulary worked alongside forces around the world including Homeland Security in the USA in a bid to track down the fraudster.
PC Sarah Baker, who works in the force’s International Liaison Office, discovered he had changed his name to Michi Jordan and was travelling on a new passport.
Abalimba, previously of Derby, was arrested in the USA and extradited back to Britain on January 28.
He was detained by UK police the following day and recalled to prison where he will now remain until October 2026.
PC Baker said: “Given his extensive offending there was a real concern that, armed with a new name, he could begin targeting new victims.
“However, the USA takes seriously foreign nationals who have not declared their criminal convictions, and he was quickly located and arrested by US authorities.
“Abalimba lives a life filled with deception and even after serving prison sentences, his fraudulent activities have continued.
“It has been a lengthy process to track him down and ensure he is brought back to the UK but I am pleased that we have now managed to achieve this thanks to work with a number of international law enforcement agencies.
“I’m grateful to all those who have helped with tracking him down and ensuring that he is once again behind bars and cannot cause further misery to unsuspecting victims.”
Abalimba was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to the UK at the age of five.
The promising footballer joined Derby County and also played for clubs including Crystal Palace, Fulham, Oldham Athletic and Southend United.
He also had trials at Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
When his career started to decline in 2012, he worked part-time at a taxi firm but began pretending to be Chelsea player Gael Kakuta.
Abalimba was first convicted for fraud related offences in 2013, which saw him serve six months in prison for his crimes.
He had begun a relationship with Claire Merry, the ex-wife of Thierry Henry, when he was arrested again in 2019.
He had also previously been in a relationship with Love Island star Georgia Steel after meeting her in a Mayfair nightclub.
Abalimba stole from both women – defrauding Steel of £13,000 and Merry out of more than £50,000.
He was then jailed again in 2021 for 15 counts of fraud after he plundered the bank accounts of model Chloe Henry claiming to be a US Navy Seal in a £160,000 scam.
At the time the Netflix documentary “The Footballer Fraudster” first aired in July last year his whereabouts had remained unknown.
He impersonated former Chelsea star Gael Kakuta[/caption]
Law enforcement caught up with Abalimba in 2013[/caption]
![A Collective Media Production for ITVX..THE FOOTBALL FRAUDSTER.Available on ITVX from Thursday 9 November 2023..Pictured: Love Island star Georgia Steel..When his promising football career ends, Medi Abalimba turns to an astonishing life of crime. This brand new film for the ITVX Swindles & Cons season tracks what followed as the fraudster poses as stars from the world of sport and business to scam multiple unsuspecting victims. ..We hear from Medis victims, including Love Island star Georgia Steel, revealing how this accomplished fraudster earned their trust, before betraying them in the most devastating ways...Forensic psychologist Dr Donna Youngs provides context and insight into what might have driven the escalation in Medis crimes and how easy it was to fall under his spell. ..The film shows how, over a criminal career spanning two decades, Abalimba develops his MO - coming up with bigger and more elaborate scams, featuring multiple personas and targets, all while living the life of a millionaire with designer clothes, flash cars, helicopters and five star hotels. ..(C) Collective Media Production ..For further information please contact Peter Gray.Mob 07831460662 / peter.gray@itv.com..This photograph is (C) *** and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein...Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged...Any subsequent usage may incur a fee...This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk...This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk...Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/the_football_fraudster_04jpg-JS858374690.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
