Medi Abalimba, a Congolese-born fraudster who once posed as a Premier League footballer to fund a lavish lifestyle, has been arrested in the United States after attempting to escape justice by changing his identity.
The 35-year-old, who previously had trials at Liverpool and Manchester City, became infamous for conning high-profile individuals, including women he dated, to finance a life of luxury, complete with five-star hotels, helicopter rides, and international travel.
His exploits were widely exposed in a Netflix documentary last year, where Claire Merry, the ex-wife of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, and Love Island star Georgia Steel revealed how he had deceived them.
Abalimba's fraudulent activities date back to 2012 when his football career took a downturn.
Despite playing for clubs like Crystal Palace, Fulham, and Derby County, he struggled to maintain his professional career and soon turned to deception.
He first made headlines in 2013 after being convicted of fraud for impersonating Chelsea player Gael Kakuta, landing him a six-month prison sentence.
His scams escalated over the years. In 2019, he was arrested while in a relationship with Claire Merry.
He had also dated Georgia Steel, whom he swindled out of KSh 2.2 million (PS13,000), while Merry lost over KSh 8.6 million (PS50,000) to his fraudulent schemes.
In early 2023, Abalimba was sentenced to four years and two months in prison for a series of fraud-related crimes. However, he violated his parole conditions by fleeing the UK, triggering an international manhunt.
Authorities in the UK, working alongside international agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, eventually uncovered that Abalimba had assumed a new identity, Michi Jordan, and was traveling on a new passport.
PC Sarah Baker of Derbyshire Constabulary, who was part of the investigation, expressed concerns that his name change would allow him to continue his scams.
"Given his extensive history of fraud, there was a real danger he could target new victims under his new identity," she stated.
The US authorities, known for their strict stance on foreign criminals who conceal their past convictions, swiftly tracked and arrested him.
He was extradited to the UK on January 28, where he was immediately taken into custody. Abalimba is now back behind bars and will remain imprisoned until at least October 2026.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Abalimba moved to the UK at the age of five and showed early promise as a footballer.
He trained with some of England's top clubs, including Manchester United, before his career declined.
Instead of rebuilding his life, he turned to elaborate scams, pretending to be a wealthy athlete while stealing from those who trusted him.
Despite multiple arrests and jail sentences, he continued his fraudulent ways, proving himself a master manipulator.
