Hull City Break Transfer Record for Nobel Mendy

Hull City have torn up their transfer history to land Nobel Mendy, completing a club-record move for the Rayo Vallecano defender on a long-term deal.

The 21-year-old centre-back has signed a five-year contract with the option of a further year, becoming the second record-breaking arrival of the summer at the MKM Stadium.

The fee remains officially undisclosed, but Hull confirmed it surpasses the £20m plus add-ons paid earlier this month for Greece goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis from Olympiacos. That deal had only just eclipsed the club’s previous benchmark – the £13m spent on Ryan Mason from Tottenham in 2016.

Now Mendy sits at the top of that list.

“I am very happy to be here and very proud to be here as well,” the Senegal international said after completing the move. “I am a very athletic player, and I am a defender at heart. I also really enjoy the game and coming out from the back cleanly and aggressively when needed.

“I have wanted to play in the Premier League since I was little, so it's a great challenge to face and I am ready for it.”

A product of Paris FC, Mendy has climbed quickly through European football. He spent just one season in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano but made it count, scoring twice in 28 appearances and playing his part in a remarkable run to the Conference League final, where they lost to Crystal Palace in his last game for the club.

It was not his first taste of that stage either. The year before, he had also reached the Conference League final with Real Betis, only to be beaten by Chelsea.

Internationally, Mendy is at the very start of his journey with Senegal. His only cap so far came in March, against The Gambia, but Hull are clearly betting that there is far more to come.

Two record signings in one summer, a Premier League dreamer at the heart of the defence, and a club willing to pay for potential. Hull have nailed their colours to the mast.