Rui Mendes

Rui Jorge Monteiro Mendes (born 10 November 1999) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Eredivisie club Groningen.^[1]

Rui Mendes

Personal information
Full name	Rui Jorge Monteiro Mendes
Date of birth	(1999-11-10) 10 November 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Gondar, Amarante, Portugal
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position	Right winger
Team information
Current team	Groningen
Number	27
Youth career
2016–2018	Arminia Bielefeld
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2021	1899 Hoffenheim II	59	(10)
2021–2024	Emmen	69	(18)
2024–	Groningen	29	(3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:20, 18 January 2025 (UTC)

Early life

From Gondor, in Amarante, Portugal, Mendes moved at the age of seven to Dissen, Lower Saxony with his family. He was in the youth academy of Arminia Bielefeld but was not offered a professional contract. Instead he joined up with 1899 Hoffenheim aged 18 on a two-year contract. He trained with the first team under Julian Nagelsmann and played for their second team before ultimately leaving on a free transfer in 2021.^[2]

Career

During a trial game for FC Emmen Mendes scored twice against Heracles Almelo to earn a contract.^[3]

In the 2021–22 season, Mendes was instrumental in FC Emmen's championship winning season in the Eerste Divisie. Mendes scored in eight consecutive games, just one short of the all time FC Emmen record from the 2001–02 season, when Paul Weerman scored in nine consecutive matches.^[4]

In January 2024, Mendes joined Eerste Divisie club Groningen on a three-and-a-half-year deal.^[5]

Honours

Emmen

• Eerste Divisie: 2021–22