Heart of Midlothian have officially confirmed the signing of former Forest Green Rovers captain Laurent Mendy.
The midfielder has been on the Tynecastle side’s radar for the past two transfer windows, with the Scottish Premiership side having had a bid kicked back in January.
However, a deal has finally been agreed for the 29-year-old French-born player that could be worth close to a club-record £1 million if all add-ons and performance-related targets are met.
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.”
Forest Green boss Robbie Savage said: “It’s an unbelievable opportunity for Mendy. I could not stand in his way of progressing his career and bettering his and his family’s life, whilst getting a record fee received for the club. They’ve got a fantastic player and a fantastic person. I’m incredibly proud of him.”
