Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy transferred from Chelsea to Al-Ahli in 2023.
This past May, he won the AFC Champions League with his team.
However, during this period, Mendy and many other players were criticized for moving to Saudi Arabia solely for financial gain.
“I CAME TO WIN TROPHIES, NOT FOR MONEY”
Mendy rejected these claims, saying he chose Al-Ahli not for money but to win trophies. In a statement to BBC Sport, he said:
“When Al-Ahli’s project was presented to me, they made me feel I would have a very important role to play. Two years later, we won the club’s first-ever Champions League title. That validates my decision. I hope the coming years will make that even clearer.”
“Some people immediately assume it’s about money. But I’ve said from the beginning: when I left Chelsea, I wanted to join a club where I could win everything – because that was no longer possible at Chelsea.”
SPONSOR OF YAKAAR SCHOOL
The former Senegal national team goalkeeper is also known for his involvement in charitable work.
Mendy is the sponsor of a school called Yakaar, which provides digital education opportunities for underprivileged children.
“THE FOUNDATION OF MY CAREER: HOPE”
The word Yakaar means “hope” in Wolof, and it holds a special place in Mendy’s life. He explained:
“What kept me going was hope. When I was without a club, I lived with the hope of getting my first professional contract. Then came the hope of playing for the national team, making my family proud… I always had hope. The word that best describes my career is definitely hope.”