Jacob Mensah: Ghanaian-English defender joins Braintree on free transfer from Dover Athletic

Ghanaian-English centre-back Jacob Mensah has joined National League South side Braintree on a free transfer from Dover Athletic.

The 25-year-old, born in London and standing at 1.88m, arrives after a spell at Dover in which he re-established himself in the sixth tier following a brief move to Welling United last season. Mensah previously re-signed for Dover in October 2024 after a short period without a club.

Comfortable on the right side of central defence, Mensah brings significant experience at National League and National League South level. Across his career he has made more than 110 league appearances in the two divisions, as well as featuring in League One, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy earlier in his career.

Mensahs journey has taken him from non-league Ramsgate into the professional game with Crystal Palaces under-23s, before senior spells at Weymouth and Morecambe. He later returned to non-league football with Maidstone United and Torquay United, adding further National League minutes before his moves to Dover and Welling.

His switch to Braintree, confirmed on 10 July 2026, keeps the defender in the National League South and marks the latest permanent move in a career characterised by regular game time across Englands lower divisions.