Get to know new OL signing Thiago Mendes

OL has added a third player to its ranks during the 2019 summer transfer window. Just a week after the arrival of Jean Lucas, Les Gones welcome another Brazilian into the fold. Unlike his countryman, however, Thiago Mendes is well known to the French public after two years in Ligue 1 Conforama with LOSC, where he had a breakout 2018/19 season (35 matches, 35 starts, four assists).

A product of Goiás EC, with whom he won the Brazilian Serie B in 2012, Thiago Mendes then joined local heavyweights São Paulo FC, reaching the Copa Libertadores final in 2016. Then came the jump to Lillle in 2017 and a star-making 2018/19 campaign after a tough first season in French football. 

By completing the move to Décines, Thiago Mendes becomes the 19th Brazilian player in club history, continuing a long, fruitful tradition that shows no signs of slowing down*. After Ciprian Tatarusanu and Jean Lucas, he's the third new arrival ahead of the 2019-2020 season.

* In chronological order: Constantino Pires, Marcelo Kiremitdjian, Sonny Anderson, Edmilson, Claudio Caçapa, Cris, Giovane Elber, Nilmar, Juninho, Fred, Cléber Anderson, Fabio Santos, Ederson, Michel Bastos, Rafael, Fernando Marçal, Marcelo, Jean Lucas and Thiago Mendes.