Once hailed as one of the brightest young talents in world football, Gael Kakuta’s journey has taken yet another unexpected turn.

The 33-year-old winger, who famously sparked a transfer ban for Chelsea when he joined from Lens in 2007, has signed for Turkish second-division side Sakaryaspor—his 14th professional club.

Sakaryaspor marked the occasion with a dramatic Game of Thrones-inspired unveiling video, featuring Kakuta as a regal figure ready to defend his new “kingdom.” While the creative presentation caught the attention of fans, it also reignites questions about how a player once tipped for stardom drifted so far from the heights many predicted.

Kakuta’s time at Chelsea never quite lived up to expectations. Despite being at Stamford Bridge for five years, he struggled to break into the first team and was loaned out to various English clubs, including Fulham, Bolton, and Derby County. In 2012, he left on a free transfer to Dutch side Vitesse, the first stop in a journeyman career that has spanned multiple countries and leagues.

Now at Sakaryaspor, Kakuta will hope to reignite his form in Turkey’s lower leagues, where he’s been symbolically crowned ‘king.’ Whether he can dominate on the pitch remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the football world hasn’t forgotten the promise he once showed in Chelsea blue.