Édouard Mendy

Édouard Osoque Mendy (born 1 March 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for and captains Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli. Born in France, he plays for the Senegal national team.

Starting his career in his native France, Mendy played in the Le Havre academy before signing professional terms with third division Cherbourg in 2011. Mendy was released in 2014, after which he almost quit football, before getting an opportunity with Marseille's reserves. He established himself as regular in the following seasons at Reims and Rennes.

In 2020, Mendy signed for Premier League club Chelsea for a reported fee of £22 million. In his first season, he immediately broke into the starting line-up, becoming the first African goalkeeper to play for the club's senior team, and kept sixteen clean sheets in the Premier League. Mendy also equalled the record for the most clean sheets in a UEFA Champions League season with nine, and kept another clean sheet in the final to help Chelsea win their second title. He was also awarded both the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year and The Best FIFA Goalkeeper of 2021, becoming the first African goalkeeper in football's history to win both awards. He would continue as the first choice keeper in the 2021–22 season, before subsequently falling out of favour during 2022–23. In 2023, Mendy signed for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli for a fee of around £16 million.

Eligible to play for Guinea-Bissau and Senegal through descent and France through birth, Mendy initially joined Guinea-Bissau in honour of his father. However, he subsequently switched allegiance to Senegal, where he became the first-choice goalkeeper for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, helping Senegal to a runners-up finish. He helped his nation win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, while also being named the tournament's best goalkeeper, keeping a clean sheet in the final. He helped Senegal to another final at the 2025 tournament.

Early life Édouard Osoque Mendy was born on 1 March 1992 in Montivilliers, Seine-Maritime in France, to a Senegalese mother and a Bissau-Guinean father. He holds both French and Senegalese nationalities. He is a cousin of fellow footballer Ferland Mendy.

Club career Early career Mendy joined the youth academy of Le Havre AC at the age of 13. After being stuck behind Zacharie Boucher in the talent pool, Mendy dropped down levels to play with CS Municipaux Le Havre. "I did genuinely have my doubts about whether I would carry on", Mendy said in a later interview.

At the age of 22, Mendy registered for unemployment and began to look for jobs outside of football. He played the 2015–16 season in Marseille's reserve team, primarily as a backup to Florian Escales. In the 2018–19 season, Mendy played in all 38 Ligue 1 games, as newly promoted Reims soared to an eighth-place finish. Mendy kept fourteen clean sheets, the third highest of any goalkeeper in the league.

Rennes Mendy joined Rennes in August 2019 for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be in the region of €4 million, replacing departing goalkeeper Tomáš Koubek. Mendy made his debut on Matchday 3 against Strasbourg after recovering from a broken finger. He saved a penalty to preserve a clean sheet as Rennes won 2–0 at the Stade de la Meinau. On 29 September, Mendy made his debut for the club against Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, which Chelsea lost 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. Mendy made his Premier League debut on 3 October, keeping a clean sheet in Chelsea's 4–0 victory over Crystal Palace, becoming the first African goalkeeper to play in the division since Carl Ikeme in 2012.

His clean sheet against Burnley on 31 October made him the first Chelsea goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in their first three Premier League matches since Petr Čech in 2004. With a clean sheet in the club's next match, a 3–0 win against Mendy's former club Rennes in the Champions League, Chelsea recorded five consecutive clean sheets for the first time in a decade.

On 8 May 2021, Mendy saved a panenka style penalty kick from Sergio Agüero as Chelsea came from 0–1 down to defeat Manchester City 2–1. Three weeks later on 29 May, Mendy became the first African goalkeeper to play in a final of the UEFA Champions League since Bruce Grobbelaar, who appeared in the 1985 European Cup final. Chelsea defeated Manchester City 1–0 in the final. He also equaled the record of most clean sheets in a Champions League season, by keeping nine clean sheets, the same as Santiago Cañizares in 2000–01 and Keylor Navas in 2015–16.

2021–22 season Mendy started the UEFA Super Cup tie against Villarreal, making important saves in the tie that went to extra time. He was replaced by Kepa Arrizabalaga for the penalty shoot-out, which Chelsea went on to win for a second Super Cup title.

Mendy finished second in the Yashin Award to Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who saved two penalties in the UEFA Euro 2020 final. Mendy did, however, win the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award.

In February 2022, after winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, Mendy returned from international duty to take part in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, starting in the final as he won a second trophy in two weeks. Potter decided not to commit to naming either Mendy or Arrizabalaga as first choice; ultimately, Arrizabalaga would keep his place and Mendy would play just three times after Potter's appointment.

Al Ahli

Mendy signed for Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli on 28 June 2023 on a three-year contract, for a fee reported in the British media to be around £16 million. In the final match held in Jeddah on 3 May 2025, he became a member of the squad that won the first-ever AFC Champions League Elite title at the 2024–25 season, following a victory against the Japanese representative, Kawasaki Frontale at the final.

Mendy was also the best goalkeeper in the competition. In December that year, he signed a new contract with the club until 2028. In the following season, he lifted the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite trophy as the club's captain after a 1–0 extra-time win over Machida Zelvia in the final. International career

In November 2016, Mendy was called up by Guinea-Bissau to play friendly matches against Portuguese clubs Belenenses and Estoril. At the time, his father was very ill and was about to pass away, leading Mendy to honour him playing for the Guinea-Bissau national team. Shortly after, he was shortlisted by Guinea-Bissau to play the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations for them, but he ultimately rejected the call and pledged his future to Senegal. Mendy went on to become Senegal's first choice goalkeeper leading up to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He started in both Senegal's opening two group stage matches, a 2–0 win over Tanzania and a 1–0 defeat to Algeria. However, he was injured during the warmups before Senegal's final group stage match against Kenya, and was forced to withdraw from the squad with a broken finger as Senegal would go on to lose in the final 1–0 to Algeria.

In January 2022, Mendy was included in Senegal's squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. In his first game at the competition, on 10 January against Zimbabwe, he kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 win for Senegal. After the group stages, Mendy helped his nation to progress into the final. At the final on 6 February, against Egypt at Olembe Stadium, following a goalless draw after extra-time, Mendy saved a spot kick from Mohanad Lasheen and another hit the post during the penalty shootout to win the tournament for Senegal for the first time.

Mendy represented Senegal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as the nation reached the round of 16 for the first time since its debut in 2002. He started every match including Senegal's final defeat to England.

In December 2023, Mendy was named in Senegal's squad for the postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in the Ivory Coast. Mendy started every match as Senegal reached the round of 16. In December 2025, he was called up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

On 2 June 2026, Mendy was selected by Senegal's coach Pape Thiaw in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Style of play Mendy has been described as a physically dominant goalkeeper who exerts a strong influence in the defensive third. Mendy is an aerially assertive goalkeeper, frequently coming off his line to claim crosses. He is also very vocal, often organizing his defenders' positioning. Upon his arrival at Chelsea, former manager Frank Lampard praised his positive attitude and work ethic.

He was appointed a Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion by President of Senegal Macky Sall following the nation's victory at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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2011–12 Championnat National

2012–13 Premier League

2021–22 Premier League

2022–23 Premier League

2023–24

Honours Reims Ligue 2: 2017–18

Chelsea UEFA Champions League: 2020–21 UEFA Super Cup: 2021 FIFA Club World Cup: 2021 FA Cup runner-up: 2020–21, 2021–22 EFL Cup runner-up: 2021–22

Al-Ahli AFC Champions League Elite: 2024–25, 2025–26 Saudi Super Cup: 2025

Senegal Africa Cup of Nations: 2021; runner-up: 2019, 2025

Individual The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper: 2021 UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2020–21 Ghana Football Awards Best African International: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Best Goalkeeper: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2021 AFC Champions League Elite Best Goalkeeper: 2024–25 Saudi Pro League Golden Glove: 2025–26 Saudi Pro League Goalkeeper of the Month: April 2025, September 2025

Orders Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion: 2022