FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have signed defender Michael Mancienne on a free transfer from EFL Championship side Nottingham Forest F.C., the club announced today. Mancienne, a former England youth international and graduate of Chelsea's youth system with 99 combined career appearances in the English Premier League and German Bundesliga, will be added to the roster using Targeted Allocation Money upon receipt of his P-1 Visa and international transfer certificate (ITC).
“Michael’s a defender who has played at the highest levels in both England and Germany throughout his career,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said. “We believe his experience will help him make immediate contributions to the club and allow him to become a leader on and off the field.”
Mancienne, 30, joins the Revolution after four seasons with Nottingham Forest, where he made 135 appearances across all competitions. In total, he has amassed more than 320 appearances and 25,000 minutes played in his senior career. The six-foot-one defender registered more than 2,200 minutes in each of his campaigns with Forest in the Championship, contributing time at all three positions along the backline as well as the midfield. The London, England native's resume also includes three seasons with Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga, and a pair of loan assignments from Chelsea with Wolverhampton Wanderers from 2008-11, and Queens Park Rangers from 2006-08.
Mancienne, who began his professional career with Chelsea in 2006, made six first-team appearances across all competitions for The Blues between 2006-11, including a substitute appearance in a 2009 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 matchup against Juventus. He was also named to the match day squad for all seven of the club's contests en route to a 2009 FA Cup title, highlighted by a full, 90-minute shift against Watford in the Round of 16. Mancienne made four league appearances for Chelsea in the 2008-09 English Premier League season, and made 46 additional EPL appearances while on loan with Wolverhampton.
Born in Feltham, England, Mancienne became a fixture in England’s youth national teams beginning in 2003, when he debuted with the Under-16 squad, until 2011, when he competed in the European Under-21 Football Championship. In total, he made 62 appearances and scored one goal in his youth international career. He earned a call up to England's senior team for a friendly against Germany on Nov. 19, 2008, but did not play.
Mancienne began developing with semi-pro club Kingstonian FC, where he was discovered by Chelsea at the age of nine. He made his debut for the Chelsea Reserves as a student and signed his first professional contract with The Blues in January 2006.
The English defender will occupy an international roster slot. New England has filled all seven of its current international roster slots.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution sign defender Michael Mancienne on a free transfer from Nottingham Forest on August 3, 2018. He will be added to the roster using Targeted Allocation Money upon receipt of his P-1 Visa and international transfer certificate (ITC).
Name: Michael Mancienne
Position: Defender
Number: 28
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
Hometown: Feltham, England
Date of Birth: January 8, 1988 (Feltham, England)
Nationality: England & Seychelles
Last Club: Nottingham Forest (ENG)
