Nathaniel Mendez-Laing

Versatile forward Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was the third player to join Derby County in the summer of 2022 following the successful takeover of the club by Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, signing a two-year contract.

He came through the youth ranks at Wolverhampton Wanderers and made his professional debut in the League Cup at the age of 17, producing a Man of the Match showing in a win over Swindon Town, during the 2009/10 season.

Spells out on loan at Peterborough United and Sheffield United in League One followed, before he returned to Peterborough on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2012 following their return to the Championship.

He had stints out on loan at Portsmouth, Shrewsbury Town and Cambridge United during his three seasons with the Posh and left as a free agent in the summer of 2015.

A two-year period at Rochdale followed in 2015/16 and 2016/17 and his form in League One earned him a move to Cardiff City in the summer of 2017.

He starred for the Bluebirds as they gained automatic promotion to the Premier League in his first season at the club, during which time he earned the Championship Player of the Month award in August 2017, while he remained a regular in the top-flight in the following campaign and in their subsequent return to the second tier in 2019/20.

Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday were Mendez-Laing’s next stops during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, with the winger opting to move on in favour of securing his move to Derby.

Mendez-Laing, capable of playing on either wing or in a central attacking role, came an instant hit with the Rams faithful thanks to his direct, attacking play and scored his first goal for the club in the third game of the season against Barnsley at Pride Park Stadium.

The winger made 51 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing eight assists over the course of 2022/23.

His displays throughout the campaign earned him a first international call-up to the Guatemala squad for their Gold Cup matches taking place in the summer of 2023.

Following an impressive debut season in Derbyshire, Mendez-Laing only got better in 2023/24.

He was once again an ever-present in the side with 50 appearances in all competitions but this time upped his goals and assist tally to 10 and 18 respectively.

His performances across the season saw him named in the League One Team of the Season alongside team-mate Eiran Cashin whilst he was also named PFA League One's Player of the Season, while he also signed a new contract until 2026.