Forest Green Rovers have seen midfielder Laurent Mendy earn praise following his summer transfer to Scottish Premiership side Hearts. The 29-year-old's move was confirmed this week after a bid in January was turned down, according to a report in the Daily Mail Sport.
Forest Green finished seventh in the National League last season with 81 points from 46 games, scoring 82 goals. They ended the 2025 campaign 27 points behind champions York City, a gap they will aim to close when the new season begins. You can review the full standings from last term.
How did Laurent Mendy perform for Hearts?
Laurent Mendy made a positive impression in his first start for Hearts against St Johnstone on Saturday. The Daily Mail Sport report states he was outstanding for nearly an hour, frequently winning back possession and using the ball effectively. His performance helped Hearts secure a victory as they continue their European campaign.
Mendy had joined Forest Green in 2021 when manager Robbie Savage moved from Macclesfield to the National League club. He captained the side to the play-offs, where they were defeated by Boreham Wood. Savage, who described Mendy as a "fantastic player and a fantastic person," sanctioned the move to Tynecastle with his best wishes.
What was Forest Green's defensive record last season?
The club conceded 52 goals in their 46-game National League season, giving them a solid +30 goal difference. This defensive foundation was part of a campaign that saw a recent form of WLWDW. Mendy's role in that defensive unit has now been taken over by other squad members, whose profiles are listed on our squad page.
His departure follows a pattern of player movement from the New Lawn. The club's strategy often involves developing players who can move to higher levels, which provides both sporting and financial benefits.
What does this mean for Forest Green's midfield?
With Mendy's exit, Forest Green must reorganize their midfield options for the upcoming season. The team has already shown it can be competitive, finishing in the top half of the table last year. Managerial plans will focus on integrating new signings or promoting from within to fill the void.
Preparations for the new campaign are ongoing, and the club will look to build on a season where they were only 11 losses away from a perfect record. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches through our fixtures section. The aim will be to improve on that seventh-place finish and challenge at the top of the table.
