Arial Mendy has completed a loan move from Beitar Jerusalem to FC Ashdod, with the transfer officially taking effect on 2026-02-10 and running until 2026-06-30. The Senegalese left-back joins Ashdod on a temporary deal within Ligat ha’Al, in a switch confirmed between the two Israeli top-flight clubs.
The move keeps the 31-year-old in Israel’s premier division but changes his colours mid-season, as he leaves Beitar Jerusalem for fellow Ligat ha’Al side FC Ashdod. The deal is registered as a loan transfer rather than a permanent sale, and Mendy is currently valued at €350k. At the end of the loan period on 2026-06-30, he is scheduled to return to Beitar Jerusalem, leaving open the possibility of a longer-term decision on his future, including a potential spell as a free agent if no new agreement is reached.
For Ashdod, the acquisition of Mendy brings in an experienced defender whose main position is left-back but who is broadly listed as a defender, offering depth and reliability on the flank. Standing at 1.80 m and favouring his left foot, he fits the profile of a modern full-back, comfortable patrolling the touchline and securing the defensive third. The transfer also underlines how both Ashdod and Beitar are operating within the same domestic competition, Ligat ha’Al, shuffling resources while remaining in Israel rather than moving the player back to his home country of Senegal.
Mendy was born in Ziguinchor and represents Senegalese football abroad, continuing a long spell of playing outside his homeland. Before arriving in Israel with Beitar Jerusalem, he built his career across several European clubs and leagues. He moved from Diambars de Saly FC in Senegal to RC Lens in France, before going on loan to US Orléans and later joining Servette FC in Switzerland. Further steps took him back to France with Clermont Foot 63 and then Grenoble Foot 38, where he spent multiple seasons. This track record means Ashdod are receiving a defender familiar with different tactical cultures in France’s and Switzerland’s professional systems, and now in Israel.
His market value has fluctuated over the years, rising as high as €800k during his time at Clermont Foot 63 before gradually settling at the current €350k figure while at Beitar Jerusalem. That valuation provides context for the current deal: Ashdod secure a seasoned, internationally experienced full-back on loan terms, without committing to an immediate permanent fee.
The structure of the agreement, with a defined return date of 2026-06-30 to Beitar Jerusalem, suggests this loan will serve as an audition period for Mendy in Israel’s top flight with a different club environment. A strong spell at Ashdod could prompt either a renewed role at Beitar or interest from other teams once he reaches the end of his commitments and, potentially, approaches free-agent status. How he performs over this loan stint in Ligat ha’Al may prove central to the next phase of his career and determine whether he extends his journey in Israeli football or seeks a new challenge elsewhere.
