Kakuta moved to Stamford Bridge from Lens in 2007 and enjoyed a fine first season at the club, finishing as top scorer for the youth team and being named Academy Scholar of the Year.

He made his first team debut in November 2009, coming on as a second-half substitute in a home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and featured 12 times during the 2010/11 campaign.

Loan spells in England – with Fulham and Bolton Wanderers – followed, before the winger moved to Europe, enjoying productive periods with Dijon, in his native France, and Vitesse Arnhem.

Kakuta spent last season on loan at Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. In total he played 16 games for Chelsea, five of them starts.

We thank Gael for his service and wish him well for the future.