Carlos Mendes Gomes (born 14 November 1998) is a professional footballer who plays for EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers, as a winger. Born in Senegal, he plays for the Guinea-Bissau national team.

Carlos Mendes Gomes
Personal information
Full name Carlos Mendes Gomes[1]
Date of birth (1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Yeumbeul, Senegal
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Bolton Wanderers
Number 7
Youth career
Lanzarote
Getafe
Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 West Didsbury & Chorlton
2018–2021 Morecambe 74 (17)
2021–2023 Luton Town 9 (0)
2022–2023Fleetwood Town (loan) 32 (7)
2023– Bolton Wanderers 16 (2)
International career
2023– Guinea-Bissau 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:34, 27 February 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:43, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

Early life

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Born in Yeumbeul, Dakar Region,[3] to a family of Bissau-Guinean and Gambian descent,[4][5] Mendes Gomes and his family moved to Spain when he was a child,[6] after his father Carlos sought work in construction.[7] The family moved to Lanzarote.[6] He is the cousin of the Gambian footballer Jacob Mendy.[8] He was naturalized as a Spanish citizen.[5]

Club career

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Early career

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After spending 10 years at UD Lanzarote,[5] Mendes Gomes moved on his own to Madrid aged 15, where he began playing for Getafe.[6] A season later he signed for Atlético Madrid's youth teams.[3][6][9]

His family then moved to England, after his father thought it was better for the children's education,[6] with the family relocating to Salford.[7] Mendes Gomes could not speak any English and did not play football for a year.[6] He then began playing for West Didsbury & Chorlton, scoring seven league goals in 50 games in all competitions during his two-season spell.[10]

Morecambe

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In May 2018, Mendes Gomes signed for Morecambe alongside Lamin Jagne, after being scouted whilst studying at The Manchester College and playing for their football academy.[11] He made his professional debut on 14 August 2018, replacing Rhys Oates in a 3–1 EFL Cup away loss against Preston North End.[12] He made 19 appearances for the club across the 2018–19 season, with 15 appearances coming in League Two.[12] A one-year contract option was exercised by Morecambe at the end of the 2018–19 season.[13]

Mendes Gomes scored his first goal for Morecambe in a 2–1 defeat at home to Oldham Athletic on 26 December 2019.[14][15] He was offered a new contract at the end of the 2019–20 season.[16]

In April 2021 he was linked with a transfer away from the club following a series of strong performances, which attracted praise from Morecambe manager Derek Adams.[17] In May 2021 he was voted the Supporters' Player Of The Season.[18] On 31 May 2021, he scored a 107th-minute penalty in the League Two play-off final, securing a 1–0 win against Newport County and Morecambe's first ever promotion to the third tier of English football.[19] In June 2021 the club activated an extension to his contract.[20] He was the club's top scorer in the 2020–21 season, with 15 goals.[21]

Luton Town

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On 26 June 2021, Mendes Gomes signed for Championship side Luton Town for an undisclosed fee.[22][23] In January 2022 he assisted Luton teammate Dion Pereira secure a loan move to Bradford City, who were managed by Derek Adams, who had managed Mendes Gomes at Morecambe.[21]

He moved on loan to Fleetwood Town in August 2022.[24]

Bolton Wanderers

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On 24 July 2023 he signed for Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee.[25] The transfer was reported to be around £300,000 by The Bolton News.[26]

International career

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Mendes Gomes was born in Senegal and is of Bissau-Guinean and Gambian descent, and raised in Spain. On 3 November 2023, he was called up to the Guinea-Bissau national football team.[27] He debuted with Guinea-Bissau in a 1–0 win over Djibouti on 20 November 2023.[28]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 27 February 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Morecambe 2018–19[12] League Two 15 0 0 0 1 0 3[a] 0 19 0
2019–20[29] League Two 16 2 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 18 2
2020–21[30] League Two 43 15 3 0 3 0 5[b] 1 54 16
Total 74 17 3 0 4 0 10 1 91 18
Luton Town 2021–22[31] Championship 9 0 3 1 1 0 1 0 14 1
2022–23[32] Championship 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
Total 9 0 3 1 2 1 1 0 15 2
Fleetwood Town (loan) 2022–23[32] League One 32 7 3 1 0 0 2[a] 1 37 9
Bolton Wanderers 2023–24[33] League One 16 2 2 0 2 0 3[a] 2 23 4
2024–25[34] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 16 2 2 0 2 0 3 2 23 4
Career Total 131 26 11 2 8 1 16 4 166 33
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
  2. ^ 2 appearances in the EFL Trophy; 3 appearances and 1 goal in the Play-Offs.

International

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As of match played 18 January 2024[35]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Guinea-Bissau 2023 1 0
2024 3 0
Total 4 0

References

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  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 18th May 2019: Morecambe" (PDF). English Football League. p. 85. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  2. ^ Carlos Mendes Gomes at WorldFootball.net  
  3. ^ a b "West Didsbury & Chorlton man Mendes signs for Morecambe". Non-League Daily. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "Angleterre : Carlos Mendes Gomes, l'Hispano-sénégalais qui impressionne jusqu'aux regards des Glasgow Rangers". wiwsport.com (in French). 10 April 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "ENTRETIEN EXCLUSIF AVEC CARLOS MENDES GOMES : " Je suis convaincu que je finirai par représenter le Sénégal "". wiwsport (in French). 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023. It's just a common description around me because of my (Spanish) nationality. I spent most of my years in Spain and it is the country where I grew up. For those who don't know me, I'm a Senegalese footballer and I'm 24 years old. I have not yet had any contact with the Senegalese federation. But I received proposals to represent Guinea Bissau and Gambia for which I am eligible. I did not answer because I am also eligible to represent Senegal. Would I respond favorably to the call of the selection of Senegal? Absolutely ! It would be a dream come true to wear the Senegalese jersey and be able to represent the Teranga lions. I haven't made a decision yet, but I would like to wait because I am convinced that I will end up representing Senegal.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Atletico Madrid to Morecambe: Carlos Mendes Gomes' journey from La Liga to League Two". Sky Sports.
  7. ^ a b Marshall, Tyrone (31 May 2021). "'I fell in love with Manchester': From Senegal to Wembley via West Didsbury". Manchester Evening News.
  8. ^ "Interview Jacob Mendy Mendy" (PDF). Wealdstone FC. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  9. ^ White, Jim (8 January 2021). "Former Atletico Madrid youngster Carlos Mendes Gomes savouring 'dream' FA Cup tie against Chelsea". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Profile". West Didsbury & Chorlton A.F.C. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  11. ^ "LAMIN JAGNE & CARLOS MENDES GOMES SIGN". Morecambe F.C. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  12. ^ a b c "Games played by Carlos Mendes Gomes in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Morecambe release five players but extend the deals of four more". BBC Sport. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  14. ^ "Morecambe 1–2 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  15. ^ Browne, Gavin (13 January 2020). "Derek Adams praises Morecambe youngster Carlos Mendes-Gomes for his performances of late". The Visitor. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  16. ^ "RETAINED LIST". Morecambe F.C.
  17. ^ Browne, Gavin (16 April 2021). "Morecambe boss compliments top scorer amid transfer speculation". The Visitor. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  18. ^ "CARLOS MENDES GOMES | Supporters' Player Of The Season". Morecambe F.C.
  19. ^ Gholam, Simeon (31 May 2021). "Morecambe 1-0 Newport AET: Carlos Mendes Gomes penalty sends Shrimps into League One". Sky Sports. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  20. ^ "RETAINED LIST". Morecambe F.C.
  21. ^ a b "How the Morecambe connection helped lure Pereira to Valley Parade". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  22. ^ "Carlos Mendes Gomes signs for the Hatters from Morecambe!". Luton Town F.C. 26 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Luton sign Shrimps forward Mendes Gomes". BBC Sport.
  24. ^ "Fleetwood sign Luton's Mendes Gomes on loan". BBC Sport.
  25. ^ "Bolton sign forward Mendes Gomes from Luton" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  26. ^ "Transfer deadline day live blog - Latest news and gossip from Wanderers". The Bolton News. 1 February 2024.
  27. ^ "UMA NOVIDADE NA LISTA DE BACIRO CANDÉ PARA INÍCIO DE QUALIFICAÇÃO PARA O MUNDIAL 2026". 3 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Djibouti vs. Guinea-Bissau - 20 November 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  29. ^ "Games played by Carlos Mendes Gomes in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Games played by Carlos Mendes Gomes in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  31. ^ "Games played by Carlos Mendes Gomes in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  32. ^ a b "Games played by Carlos Mendes Gomes in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  33. ^ "Games played by Carlos Mendes Gomes in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Games played by Carlos Mendes Gomes in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  35. ^ Carlos Mendes Gomes at National-Football-Teams.com