Joe Mendes

Josafat Wooding "Joe" Mendes (born 31 December 2002) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Süper Lig club Samsunspor.^[1]

Joe Mendes

Mendes with Sweden U21 in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Josafat Wooding Mendes
Date of birth	(2002-12-31) 31 December 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Stockholm, Sweden
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Samsunspor
Number	2
Youth career
2007–2013	Väsby United
2014–2020	AIK
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021	Hammarby IF	0	(0)
2021	→ Hammarby TFF	26	(4)
2022–2023	AIK	24	(0)
2023–2025	Braga	25	(1)
2024–2025	→ Basel (loan)	29	(1)
2025–	Samsunspor	0	(0)
International career‡
2018	Sweden U17	2	(0)
2022–2024	Sweden U21	16	(0)
2023	Sweden	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:47, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

Early life

Born and raised in Stockholm, Mendes started to play football as a youngster for local club AFC United, before moving to AIK at age 12.^[2][3] In 2020, he appeared in several friendlies for the club's first team, but did not feature in any competitive games.^[4][5][6]

Club career

Hammarby IF

In 2021, Mendes joined Hammarby Talang FF in Ettan, Sweden's third division.^[7] During the first half of the season, he scored once in 12 league appearances, while also providing six assists.^[8]

On 19 July 2021, Mendes was promoted to their parent club Hammarby IF in Allsvenskan, the domestic first tier, signing a two-year deal.^[9] He made his competitive debut only days later, on 22 July, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1 home win against Maribor in the UEFA Europa Conference League.^[10][11]

Return to AIK

On 21 December 2021, it was announced that Mendes returned to his former club AIK, in an undisclosed deal between the two rival clubs. He signed a four-year contract with the Allsvenskan club, effective in January 2022.^[12][13]

Braga

On 28 January 2023, Portuguese side Braga announced the signing of Mendes on a five-and-a-half-year contract.^[14]

Loan to Basel

On 2 September 2024, Mendes joined Swiss club Basel on a season-long loan with an option to buy.^[15][16]

International career

In 2018, Mendes won two caps for the Swedish U17 national team, playing in two friendlies against Belgium and Czech Republic.^[1] He made his full international debut for Sweden on 12 January 2023 in a friendly 2–1 win against Iceland.^[17]

Personal life

Born in Sweden, Mendes is of DR Congolese and Angolan descent.^[18] He is the cousin of the Swedish footballer Jardell Kanga.^[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 25 August 2024^[20]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hammarby Talang FF	2021	Ettan	26	4	0	0	—		—		26	4
Hammarby IF	2021	Allsvenskan	0	0	1	0	—		1[c]	0	2	0
AIK	2022	Allsvenskan	24	0	4	0	—		0	0	28	0
	2023	Allsvenskan	0	0	1	0	—		6[c]	1	8	1
	Total		24	0	5	0	—		6	1	36	1
Braga	2022–23	Primeira Liga	4	1	1	0	0	0	1[c]	0	6	1
	2023–24	Primeira Liga	17	0	0	0	2	0	8[d]	0	27	0
	2024–25	Primeira Liga	3	0	0	0	0	0	1[e]	0	4	0
	Total		24	1	1	0	2	0	10	0	37	1
Career total			74	6	7	0	2	0	17	1	101	7

1. Includes Svenska Cupen, Taça de Portugal
2. Includes Taça da Liga
3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
4. Seven appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
5. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Sweden	2023	1	0
Total		1	0

Honours

Braga

• Taça da Liga: 2023–24^[21]

Basel

• Swiss Super League: 2024–25^[22]
• Swiss Cup: 2024–25^[23]