Gael Kakuta joins Fulham on loan

Kakuta joins Fulham on loan until the end of the season (GETTY IMAGES)

Gael Kakuta today joined Fulham on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old winger completed his move this afternoon after passing a medical yesterday.

The deal was sealed after the squad left London for tonight's Barclays Premier League game at Liverpool, while Kakuta is also cup-tied for Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Tottenham.

He therefore would not be able to make his debut until next Tuesday's league game with Newcastle at Craven Cottage.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes last week revealed his interest in 19-year-old winger Kakuta, who signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract at Chelsea last month.

Hughes, who was also eyeing Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, said on Friday: "He's a player I know and I like the qualities he has."

He becomes Hughes' second January signing following the permanent capture of Steve Sidwell from Aston Villa.

France Under-20 international Kakuta was widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the game when he joined Chelsea from Lens in 2007.

He has made 16 appearances for the Blues but only five starts and was an unused substitute in Monday night's 4-0 win at Bolton.

He was at the centre of a major row in 2009 when he was accused of breaking his contract with Lens in order to join Chelsea.

He was subsequently banned for four months and given a fine of more than £670,000 by FIFA.

Chelsea were also fined and banned from any activity during two transfer windows, but the club appealed, claiming Kakuta did not have a valid contract with Lens.

The sanctions were lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in February last year.

Kakuta has played for France at every level from Under-16 to Under-20 and in December 2009, aged 18, became the youngest ever player to represent Chelsea in the Champions League.

That came after he suffered a fractured ankle which had kept him out of action for six months.