Official: Nampalys Mendy signs for Watford and returns to England | OneFootball

The Senegalese midfielder heads back to England after two seasons in France.

Official: Nampalys Mendy signs for Watford and returns to England

Nampalys Mendy is back in English football. The 33-year-old Senegalese defensive midfielder officially signed with Watford FC on Thursday, August 28, 2025. A free agent since leaving RC Lens, the former Leicester City player has inked a one-year deal with the Hornets, with an option for an additional season.

This signing marks the return to England for the Lion of Teranga, who left Leicester City in 2023 to join RC Lens. The Championship club confirmed the deal after Mendy successfully passed his medical in London on Wednesday.

During the 2024-25 season at RC Lens, Nampalys Mendy featured in 11 matches across all competitions. The Lion of Teranga joined the Sang et Or in 2023 after seven seasons at Leicester but never fully established himself in the Lens squad. He started 22 times in his first season in northern France (2023-24), but gradually became more of a squad rotation player before being completely sidelined.

"Mendy fits perfectly the profile of an experienced midfielder with leadership qualities that we were looking for. We're delighted to have signed him. He already has experience in English football with Leicester, where he was brought in to replace [N’Golo] Kanté. Mendy is excellent at winning the ball back, has great football intelligence, is aggressive without the ball, and is a natural leader on the pitch—other players follow his example," said sporting director Gian Luca Nani.