Nampalys Mendy, the Senegalese defensive midfielder, has joined FC Metz from Watford on a free transfer.
The 34-year-old has signed a contract with the Ligue 2 club until 30 June 2027 after leaving Watford, where he spent the 2025-26 season. Mendy moved to the Championship side from Lens in August 2025, also on a free transfer.
Mendy brings extensive experience from across English and French football. He has made 25 Championship appearances during his career, alongside 98 Premier League appearances and 164 in Ligue 1. A right-footed midfielder, he has also played in the Champions League and Europa League.
His previous English clubs include Leicester City, where he won the FA Cup in 2021. Mendy joined Leicester from Nice in 2016 for a reported €15.5m deal and spent the 2017-18 campaign back at his former club on loan before returning to England.
Mendy began his senior career with Monaco, progressing from the club’s youth system to its first team. He moved to Nice in 2013 on a free transfer and established himself in French football before making the switch to Leicester.
At international level, Mendy represents Senegal and was part of the team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022. He has also held French nationality and was born in La Seyne-sur-Mer.
His move to Metz brings him back to the French game after a spell that included Lens and Watford. The club will have the experienced midfielder under contract through the end of the 2026-27 season.
Mendy’s career honours also include the French second-tier title with Monaco in the 2012-13 season, adding domestic success in France to his FA Cup and Africa Cup of Nations victories.
The transfer was completed on 31 July 2026, with Mendy leaving Watford for FC Metz without a transfer fee.
