Hearts sign a ninth new player after £500,000 transfer deal secures Laurent Mendy from Forest Green Rovers
Frenchman moves to Edinburgh from England’s National League
Laurent Mendy today completed a £500,000 transfer to Hearts after signing a three-year contract at Tynecastle Park. A deal was struck for the French midfielder earlier this week after his club, Forest Green Rovers, reluctantly agreed to sell. He completed a medical and put pen to paper in Edinburgh to swap England’s National League for the Scottish Premiership.
Mendy, 29, joined Forest Green in July 2025 when manager Robbie Savage signed him having worked with him at former club Macclesfield. He became captain at Forest Green and Savage was adamant earlier this month that the player was not for sale. Hearts submitted an offer in January which Rovers rejected, but they have now agreed to let him go.
Mendy is known for his stamina and physicality in the holding midfield role. He can also operate at centre-back, but Hearts see him as a central midfielder who can make an impact in Scotland. They have lost Cammy Devlin to Rangers, while Beni Baningime was released in May and loanee Marc Leonard returned to Birmingham City following an Achilles injury.
The deal with Forest Green is for an initial £500,000 before add-ons. Mendy becomes Hearts’ ninth summer signing after wingers Josh McPake and Calvin Miller, midfielders Sabri Guendouz and Tom Renaud, striker Amadou Ba-Sy, centre-backs MJ Kamson-Kamara and Malachi Fagan-Walcott, plus goalkeeper Beau Reus.
He cannot play in Tuesday’s Champions League second qualifying round return leg against Sturm Graz at Tynecastle. Having not been signed in time to be registered for the first leg, UEFA rules do not allow new players to feature in the second match of the tie. Hearts are 4-0 down from the game in Austria and, realistically, are staring at a drop into the Europa League third qualifying round.
They would play the winner of the tie between St Gallen and Benfica and Mendy will be available for that tie. St Gallen beat Benfica 2-1 in Switzerland on Thursday evening, with the second leg to come in Lisbon next Thursday. Hearts must first assess Mendy’s fitness as he will not be as far into his pre-season campaign due to the later start in England. Head coach Wouter Vrancken and his coaching staff will look at their latest recruit in training sessions over the coming days.
A statement released by Hearts to confirm the signing read: “Heart of Midlothian is pleased to confirm the signing of Laurent Mendy. The French-born midfielder joins the Jambos from Forest Green Rovers for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance and Scottish FA approval, penning a deal at Tynecastle Park until 2029.
“29-year-old Laurent has been a standout for National League side Forest Green, captaining them to last season’s play-offs. With many years’ experience of English football, and a spell in Sweden, the defensive midfielder gained recognition at Macclesfield before following his then manager Robbie Savage to Forest Green in 2025.
“Tall and physical, Laurent’s versatility was key as Rovers finished in the play-off spots last season. Often deployed at centre-half, his ball-playing attributes allowed him to step forward and become an extra midfielder. A near ever-present for the entire campaign, Forest Green were edged out in the play-off quarter finals. Laurent now makes the move north to Gorgie to become part of Wouter Vrancken’s squad in this new era for the Jambos.”