Kakuta joins Fulham on loan

Chelsea’s Gael Kakuta has joined local rivals Fulham on loan for the remainder of the Premier League season.

The 19-year-old is highly rated at Chelsea and recently penned a new long-term deal, but has struggled for first-team football at Stamford Bridge this season.

He has made just five Premier League appearances and with the youngster keen to play football, Fulham manager Mark Hughes swooped.

“Fulham Football Club is delighted to confirm the loan signing of Gael Kakuta from Chelsea until the end of the 2010/11 season,” a statement on the club’s official website read.

Kakuta has represented France at youth level right throughout his career, from the Under-16 side to the Under-20 team, of which he is a member of at the moment.

He has scored 15 goals in 45 appearances at youth level for his country and helped them win the European Under 19 championship title last year.

Kakuta’s arrival will help Hughes replenish his strike-force, with a serious injury to striker Bobby Zamora early in the season severely harming Fulham’s chances of a top-ten finish.

He has not arrived in time to play against Liverpool on Wednesday and is also cup-tied, meaning he will miss Fulham’s fourth round FA Cup clash with Tottenham on Sunday.

Kakuta is likely to make his Fulham debut at Craven Cottage next week against Newcastle United on Wednesday.