Keita's career was kick-started by Ralf Rangnick, who took him to Salzburg and nurtured him into a midfielder that the scouts of Europe's leading clubs raved about.
But as usual with Red Bull clubs, Leipzig moved quickest, witch Rangnick eventually moving and bringing the stocky midfielder with him. Even then he came out for big money. The Leipzig-Salzburg route saw €30 million (£24.9m) exchanged and Keita became the Austrian outfit's most expensive player for several years.
A step up in speed and quality didn't pose a problem for Keita, so it wasn't long before everything was heading for another big move. Barcelona or Bayern were interested in the African midfielder, but the player pointed to Liverpool, who were rising under the influence of Jurgen Klopp.
The English outfit paid around 60 million euros (£49.9m) and sealed the deal on the condition that Keita serve one more season in Germany.
When the time came and the midfielder headed to Anfield, expectations were at an all-time high for one of the most expensive signings in the Reds' history. The club entrusted him with the hallowed number eight and no one doubted that he would follow in Steven Gerrard's footsteps. "He's a complex midfielder. He can shoot, pass, play under pressure, he combines well. He has the ideal equipment to be a Liverpool player," coach Klopp hailed Keita.
Today, it's clear he was wrong. Keita's Liverpool career was marred by a series of injuries that hampered him and eventually dented his confidence and morale. Out of Liverpool's 277 games during his time with the club, he only started in 129 (47%).
Liverpool wanted to trust their acquisition so much that they refused to admit that they had simply hit the wrong target. The Athletic website reported that the Anfield club changed Keita's diet and training, and tried various alternative exercises. He was even advised to try yoga.
But the English environment didn't suit Keita. Experts at the club pointed out that he simply wasn't used to the physical demands and intensity of football in the Premier League.
The problems gradually began to pile up. The coaching staff became increasingly unhappy with Keita's inability to absorb and carry out instructions, so they substituted him several times for tactical reasons and he played just 13 games for Liverpool in his final season.
Keita originally signed a five-year contract at Anfield. He did not receive a new deal and signed for Werder Bremen as a free agent in the summer of 2023. He came as a Premier League and Champions League winner.
The return to Germany didn't work out. He played just five games for Werder in a year and a half. Why, you ask? Yes, various health problems, fulfilling national team duties and then even a suspension.
In April last year, there was a situation in Bremen that was described differently by both sides. Keita allegedly refused to get on the club bus and leave for a game against Leverkusen because he was not in the starting line-up.
The club responded by suspending him from the squad for the rest of the season. Furthermore, Keita was accused of only being at the club for financial reasons, which he himself later strongly refuted. "If I wanted money, I would have chosen to sign a contract elsewhere than Bremen. The only thing that motivated me here was that I had the opportunity to play every weekend, to enjoy myself and to give joy."
From that moment on, however, it was clear that he would have to find another club. He hadn't played football all summer and autumn. He was waiting for a suitor to come along who would give him a new chance. And in December, Ferencvaros came calling with Robbie Keane as manager.
"I'm going to help the club to qualify for the Champions League," Keita said as he posed with the green and white jersey. He played his first game in 11 months for the reserves when he came on as a second-half substitute in the 4-1 win over Tiszafured.
"The Guinean midfielder proved with his good movement, accurate passes and ball possession that his recovery is going well and he could soon make his debut for our first team," the Ferencvaros club website said after the game.
All this was closely watched by coach Keane, who subsequently did not forget Keita when drawing up their squad for the Europa League playoffs. Could he be preparing an unexpected trump card for their match Pilsen?