Hearts sign Mendy for potential Forest Green record fee

Forest Green Rovers have sold midfielder Laurent Mendy to Heart of Midlothian for what the National League outfit say could be a club record fee of nearly £1m "if all targets are met".

The 29-year-old, who has signed a three-year contract, has been a long-term target for the Scottish Premiership club.

Forest Green manager Robbie Savage told his club's website: "It's an unbelievable opportunity for Mendy.

"I could not stand in his way of progressing his career and bettering his and his family's life whilst getting a record fee received for the club.

"They've got a fantastic player and a fantastic person. I'm incredibly proud of him."

Mendy followed Savage to Forest Green from Macclesfield last year and was a near ever-present, playing 47 times as the Gloucestershire-based side finished seventh in the table and missed out on promotion after a quarter-final defeat in the play-offs.

Forest Green say that the transfer of their club captain could eventually amount to "a club record fee of close to £1m".

Hearts, who finished second in the Scottish Premiership last season, say they viewed Mendy as "a standout" for Forest Green.

The Edinburgh club describe him as: "Tall and physical, Laurent's versatility was key as Rovers finished in the play-off spots last season. Often deployed at centre-half, his ball-playing attributes allowed him to step forward and become an extra midfielder."

Born in France, Mendy moved through the lower ranks of English football from Thamesmead Town, Greenwich Borough, Whyteleafe, Ashford United, Dartford and VCD Athletic before a season in Sweden with Amal then four seasons with Macclesfield.