Scouting Report: Édouard Mendy

There are a few examples of a meteoric rise and late bloomer more compelling than that of Édouard Mendy - a goalkeeper who signed his first professional contract at 24, in the second tier of French football, and who is set to play Champions League football at 28. Whether he remains at Rennes or moves abroad as rumoured, he will be in Europe’s biggest showcase next season, a stage deserving of his talents. 

As recently as 2015/2016, Mendy was playing in the fourth tier of French football as a backup goalkeeper for Marseille’s reserves but things soon changed for him when he signed for Stade de Reims in the second tier. Although signed to be a backup goalkeeper, he made his debut soon enough when number one Johann Carrasso got sent off 5 minutes into the season.

Mendy came on and put in a decent performance and then kept it up in the next two games, which he also played. Although he went back to being on the bench, he got to play a handful of games towards the end of the season. 

The full appointment of David Guion as manager shook things a bit at Reims, and one of the beneficiaries of that was Mendy whom Guion trusted to be his number one for the season. Mendy repaid that faith by having a truly wonderful season. He kept clean sheets in half his games, conceding just 22 goals in 34 games.