Nathaniel Mendez Laing

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Born in Birmingham, West Midlands, Mendez-Laing is a product of the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy. Having represented England at under-16 and under-17 level, he made his senior début on 25 August 2009 in a League Cup victory over Swindon Town. He subsequently signed his first professional contract with the club in March 2010.

Mendez-Laing joined League One side Peterborough United on loan for the 2010–11 season on 1 July 2010. He made forty appearances in total, scoring five times, during the season as Peterborough made the play-offs, where they won promotion back to the Championship. During the close season it was confirmed that a fee had been agreed to permanently transfer Mendez-Laing to Peterborough, around £250,000. However, the move collapsed when personal terms could not be agreed.

Instead of move back to Peterborough, Mendez-Laing moved on loan to League One side Sheffield United in a deal to run until 3 January 2012, making his début for the Blades a few days later, in the first found of the League Cup against Hartlepool United. He played regularly until picking up an injury at the end of September which sidelined him for a number of weeks. Having returned to his parent club for rehabilitation he then sustained another injury whilst warming up for his first game back at Bramall Lane which was to keep him out for the remainder of his loan spell, thus he returned to the Midlands having made only eleven appearances and scoring one goal in his time at United.

Peterborough United

In July 2012 Mendez-Laing revived his move to former loan club Peterborough United, a deal that he had turned down the previous summer. He signed a three-year contract after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee, believed to be £100,000.

However, his Peterborough debut was delayed following a hamstring injury, which resulted him out between four and six weeks. It took until 15 September 2012 for Mendez-Laing returned from injury and scored his first goal for Peterborough on his debut in a 5–2 away defeat to Burnley. His goal had put Peterborough 2–1 up but a Charlie Austin hat-trick turned the game in Burnley's favour. In November of that year Mendez-Laing was suspended and placed on the transfer list after a public-order offence in Peterborough town centre, with manager Darren Ferguson announcing that Mendez-Laing subsequently had no future at the club.

After returning from his loan spell at Portsmouth, Mendez-Laing made a surprise appearance as a substitute in a 2–1 loss against Nottingham Forest. Soon after, manager Darren Ferguson explain his apparent change of heart regarding Mendez-Laing, saying that he (Ferguson) had now forgiven him, telling the Evening Telegraph: "I don't bear grudges. Mendez-Laing is back at the club and it's now up to me and the coaching staff to get the best out of him as a player. He clearly has ability, but he must also now knuckle down and do all he can to help this team." His return saw him earned him more playing time in the first team and scored his second Peterborough United goal, in a 5–1 win over Millwall on 19 February 2013. Mendez-Laing scored his third goal in the last game of the season, in a 3–2 loss against Crystal Palace, resulting Peterborough United relegation.

Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Mendez-Laing switched number shirt from 44 to 19. However, at the start of the season, Mendez-Laing was left out for the first four matches at the start of the season, citing his fitness concern. Mendez-Laing's first appearance of the 2013–14 came on 24 August 2013 where he came on as a substitute for Lee Tomlin in the 74th minutes, in a 5–0 victory against Tranmere Rovers. His fitness concern continued, resulting him on the un-used substitute bench for four matches and during on the sidelined, Mendez-Laing scored a hat-trick for the club's reserve, in a 4–0 win over Thresham College. After this, Mendez-Laing returned to the first team and scored his first league goal of the season, in a 1–0 win over Shrewsbury Town on 19 October 2013. Four weeks later on 9 November 2013, Mendez-Laing scored in the first round of FA Cup, in a 2–0 win over Exeter City. Then on 10 December 2013, in the quarter-final of Football League Trophy, Mendez-Laing scored in a 3–0 win over Newport County. After his loan spell at Shrewsbury Town came to an end, Mendez-Laing returned to the first team and featured for the last three remaining game of the season, including a match against Shrewsbury Town, the team he played during the season, where he provided an assist for Josh McQuoid, who scored in a 4–2 win, resulting Shrewsbury Town's relegation on 26 April 2014.

In the 2014–15 season, Mendez-Laing was expected by Manager Ferguson to learn his mistakes over his fitness. Eventually, he did, which resulted him being started in the first team at the start of the season and provided an assist for Kenny McEvoy, in a 3–2 win over Milton Keynes Dons on 16 August 2014. However, Mendez-Laing suffered a thigh injury that kept him out until October. Mendez-Laing made his first team return on 21 October 2014, coming on as a substitute for Ricardo Santos in the 74th minutes, in a 1–0 loss against Crewe. He continued to be in the first team, mostly coming on as a substitute. By the end of January, Mendez-Laing was told by the club that he can leave the club to get first team regular after he turned down a two loan move.

At the end of the 2014–15 season, Mendez-Laing was released by the club after spending three years there.

Loan Spells

On 15 November 2012, Mendez-Laing signed on a one-month loan for Portsmouth, making his debut, on 17 November 2012, in a 1–0 loss against Doncaster Rovers. After the match, Mendez-Laing spoke about his debut, saying Portsmouth could reap the benefits of reviving his career. After making four appearances, Mendez-Laing's loan spell at Portsmouth was extended until the start of January. After adding five more appearances however, Mendez-Laing returned to Peterborough.

On 30 January 2014, Mendez-Laing was sent out on loan to Shrewsbury Town on a short-term deal. Mendez-Laing made his Shrewsbury Town debut two days later, coming on as a substitute for Bahrudin Atajić in the 59th minutes, in a 1–1 draw against Brentford. His loan spell at Shrewsbury Town was extended for another month despite suffering a slight hamstring injury that kept him out for a week. However, Mendez-Laing suffered another injury, resulting his loan spell with Shrewsbury Town come to an end by the end of March.

On 18 February 2015, he was loaned to League Two side Cambridge United for the remainder of the 2014–15 season. Mendez-Laing made an impact on his Cambridge United debut when he scored his first goal for the club, though Cambridge United lost 6–2 to Portsmouth. Mendez-Laing went on to make twenty-two appearance for the club before returning to his parent club at the end of the season.

Rochdale

On 27 August 2015, Mendez-Laing joined League One side Rochdale on a one-year deal.

Cardiff City

On 30 May 2017, Mendez-Laing agreed to join Championship side Cardiff City on a free transfer. He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2017–18 season during a 1–0 victory over Burton Albion, as a substitute in place of Bruno Ecuele Manga. He opened his account for the Bluebirds on 8 August, scoring in a 2–1 win over Portsmouth in the EFL Cup. Mendez-Laing was named August Player of the Month, following a further four goals, helping Cardiff to five wins out of five, for the first time in their history.

Career statistics

Personal life

On 6 February 2014, while at loan at Shrewsbury Town, Mendez-Laing was in court for driving a car without a licence and no insurance, that occurred on 10 July 2013. As a result, Mendez-Laing was fined a total of £900, ordered to pay costs of £70 and a surcharge of £60, as well as, being given eight penalty points on his licence and disqualified from driving for six weeks.

Honours