| Tudor Mendel-Idowu | |
| Fullname: | Tudor Olorunninbe Mendel-Idowu[1] |
| Birth Date: | 15 January 2005 |
| Birth Place: | Slough, England |
| Height: | 1.80 m |
| Currentclub: | RSCA Futures |
| Clubnumber: | 77 |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 2013–2023 |
| Youthclubs1: | Chelsea |
| Years1: | 2023– |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2023– |
| Clubs2: | RSCA Futures |
| Caps2: | 16 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2019 |
| Nationalteam1: | England U15 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2022 |
| Nationalteam2: | England U17 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 3 |
| Club-Update: | 1 April 2024 |
| Ntupdate: | 20:34, 30 March 2022 (UTC) |
Tudor Olorunninbe Mendel-Idowu (born 15 January 2005) is an English footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Belgian side RSCA Futures.
Born in Berkshire, England, Mendel-Idowu was regarded as a child prodigy academically, featuring numerous times in national and international competitions, most notably coming second in the 2014 edition of Child Genius.[2] Mendel-Idowu attended independent boys' preparatory boarding school Ludgrove School.[2] At the age of thirteen, he was made a King's Scholar at Eton College.[3]
He joined the youth academy of Chelsea at under-8 level, following interest from numerous other clubs including Arsenal and Tottenham.[4] [3] In July 2021, he signed a new contract with the Blues.[5]
Following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, with his contract set to expire, Mendel-Idowu was offered a new deal by Chelsea.[6] However, on 18 July 2023, it was reported by Spanish journalist Albert Rogé that Mendel-Idowu had rejected this offer, and was close to joining Spanish side Barcelona.[7]
Despite these links, on 27 July 2023, he officially signed for Belgian side Anderlecht.[8] Initially assigned to the club's reserve team, RSCA Futures, Mendel-Idowu scored on his debut in the Challenger Pro League in a 3–2 win against Dender.[9]
Eligible to represent both England and Nigeria at international level, Mendel-Idowu was first called up to the England national under-15 football team in 2019.[10] Tudor scored his first England U17 goal against Scotland on 8 February in a 3–0 win and followed that up with a further 2 goals in England U17's next game playing as a right winger. He later made substitute appearances against France and Luxembourg in the England U17 qualification games.
Mendel-Idowu's grandfather on his mother's side is, John Adeleye-Abai, played for the Nigeria national football team as a winger.[3] His other grandfather on his father's side, Dr Fola Kayode Mendel-Idowu, was a gifted academic – he specialised in bio-aeronautics and was Africa's first 'flying doctor'.[3]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Chelsea U21 | 2022–23 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| RSCA Futures | 2023–24 | Challenger Pro League | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||