Updated through December 12, 2020
Columbus (2020): Mensah made 23 regular-season appearances (all starts as a center-back) for Crew SC in 2020. The defender made his 2020 regular-season debut as a starter on Opening Match against New York City FC (March 1), before starting on the road against Seattle Sounders FC (March 7). Mensah also played every minute of the MLS is Back Tournament Group Stage matches: against FC Cincinnati* (July 11), the New York Red Bulls* (July 16) and Atlanta United* (July 21). He has played all 450 minutes in the regular-season along with all 360 minutes of play during the MLS is Back Tournament, including the Round of 16 match against Minnesota United FC (July 28). Mensah started at home against Chicago Fire FC (August 20) and on the road at New York City FC (August 24). The defender then made consecutive starts on the road against FC Cincinnati (August 29), at home against Philadelphia Union (September 2) and at home against FC Cincinnati (September 6), followed by three starts from September 12 at Chicago Fire FC through the September 23 home match against Minnesota United FC. Mensah notably earned MLS Team of the Week honors after his performance at home against Nashville SC (September 19). He continued his streak of playing every minute of every match in 2020 with five consecutive starts from September 27 through the October 18 match at home against New York City SC. Mensah then started and played the full 90 minutes of five consecutive matches from October 24 through the November 8 match at home against Atlanta United. He was named to MLSsoccer.com's Team of the Week for Week 23 following his defensive performance against Atlanta. In Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs action, Mensah made four starts: at home against the New York Red Bulls (November 21), against Nashville SC (November 29), against the New England Revolution (December 6) - where he provided the game-winning assist - and against Seattle Sounders FC (December 12) during MLS Cup 2020.
* MLS is Back Tournament Group Stage matches counted towards the 2020 MLS regular season
2019 (Columbus): Jonathan Mensah made 24 regular-season appearances (23 starts at centerback) in 2019. He made his 2019 regular-season debut in a home match against the New York Red Bulls (March 2). Mensah played every minute of Crew SC’s first nine regular-season matches. He helped the Black & Gold register shutouts against the New England Revolution (March 9, April 6), against FC Dallas (March 16) and against Atlanta United (March 30). Mensah made six consecutive starts for the Black & Gold starting on May 4 (D.C. United) to June 1 (NYCFC). Mensah made a substitute appearance during a road contest against the San Jose Earthquakes (August 3) coming in for Hector Jimenez. He returned to the starting line against FC Cincinnati (August 10) and made four consecutive starts. Mensah returned to the starting lineup during a road contest against Atlanta United (September 14) and started in Crew SC's three remaining regular-season contests, playing all 90 minutes in each of those matches. He did not make an appearance in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, due to being on international duty with Ghana. Mensah was named Crew SC's 2019 Defender of the Year.
2018 (Columbus): Jonathan Mensah made 27 regular-season appearances (26 starts as a centerback) in 2018, scoring one goal. He started in nine consecutive matches beginning with a road match against Toronto FC (March 3) to a home match against the San Jose Earthquakes (April 28). He returned to the starting lineup in home matches against the Philadelphia Union (May 9) and the Chicago Fire (May 12), helping Crew SC register shutouts in both matches. After a road match against the New England Revolution (May 19), Mensah was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week. Mensah suffered a left thigh injury before a road match against Sporting Kansas City (May 27), and returned to the pitch as a substitute in a home match against the New York Red Bulls (June 9). Mensah started in consecutive matches from a home match against Atlanta United FC (June 13) and to a home match against Real Salt Lake (June 30). He did not make an appearance in a road match against the LA Galaxy (July 7) after being listed as questionable with a concussion. He returned to the starting lineup in a road match against New York City FC (July 14). In a road match against the New York Red Bulls (July 28), Mensah scored his first goal of the 2018 MLS regular season in the seventh minute of the match, In a home match against the Houston Dynamo (August 11), Mensah started and helped the team keep a clean sheet. He returned to the starting lineup in a home match against New York City FC (September 1). He started in the following road match against FC Dallas (September 15) and helped the club earn a clean sheet, earning a spot in MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for his performance. He also started in consecutive matches from a home match against the Colorado Rapids (September 22) to a road match against Orlando City SC (October 21). After receiving a yellow card against Orlando City SC, Mensah missed a home match against Minnesota United FC (October 28) due to yellow card accumulation. He made three appearances (all starts as a centerback) in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Mensah started in an Eastern Conference Knockout Round match against D.C. United (November 1) and in both legs of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Red Bulls (November 4 and November 11). He did not make an appearance in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2017 (Columbus): Mensah made 26 appearances (25 starts), all as a centerback and recorded two goals and one assist. He made his regular-season team debut as a starter in the Opening Match against the Chicago Fire (March 4). Mensah received a red card in a road contest against the Houston Dynamo (March 11) and subsequently missed the match at D.C. United (March 18) while serving a one-match suspension. Mensah started in an international friendly match at home against Eintracht Frankfurt (July 14). He received a red card in a road match against the Philadelphia Union (July 26) and subsequently missed the following road match against Real Salt Lake (July 29). Mensah returned to the starting lineup in the road match against the San Jose Earthquakes (August 5), recording his first MLS regular-season assist. He started in a home contest against FC Dallas (August 26), scoring the game-winning goal and earning a spot on MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week. Mensah started in a home match against Sporting Kansas City (September 10), receiving a yellow card that caused him to miss Crew SC’s road contest against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (September 16) due to yellow-card accumulation. Mensah returned to the starting lineup in Crew SC’s home match against the New York Red Bulls (September 23), scoring his second goal of the 2017 regular season. Mensah made five appearances (all starts) at centerback in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
2016 (Anzhi Makhachkala): Mensah made 19 appearances (16 starts) for the club, providing one assist. His team debut came as a starter in a home contest against Amkar Perm, playing all 90 minutes (March 7). Mensah two appearances in the Russian Cupagainst Mordovia Saransk (August 21) and against Zenit St. Petersburg (September 27), helping Anzhi Makhachkala reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
2011-2016 (FC Evian): He made 49 regular seasons appearances (40 starts), and contributed two goals to the team. While playing for FC Evian, he made two appearances in the Coupe de La Ligue and two appearances in the Coupe de France. Mensah helped the club reach the quarterfinals of the 2013-2014 Coupe de La Ligue.
2010-2011 (Granada CF): Mensah made 19 appearances (12 starts) for Granada CF in Spain’s Segunda Division, scoring one goal. His club debut came as a starter in an away match against Real Betis (August 29, 2010). Mensah helped the club finish in fifth place as well as gain promotion to the First Division, allowing Granda CF to return there for the first time in 35 years.
2008-2009 (Free State Stars): He made 39 regular season appearances – all starts – and scored two goals. Mensah’s club debut came as a starter in a road match against SuperSport United (August 30, 2008). Made one starting appearance in the Domestic Cup at home against the Golden Arrows (August 8, 2009).
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
As of June 22, 2019
Mensah has earned 58 senior National Team caps for Ghana. Mensah's senior National Team debut came on March 3, 2010 in a friendly match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, coming on as a substitute. He has participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Mensah featured for Ghana in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, making two group stage appearances and playing in a Round of 16 contest against the U.S., helping the Black Stars reach the quarterfinals. In 2014, he started in every group stage match of Ghana’s World Cup campaign. Mensah had a pivotal role in Ghana’s run to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Final, playing every minute of every match including 120 minutes in the tournament’s final. During the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, Mensah made two starts, one against Egypt (January 25) and one against Burkina Faso (February 4), playing the full 90 minutes in each match. Mensah started for Ghana in a friendly match against Mexico (June 28), playing 80 minutes en route to earning his 54th cap. Mensah started in both of Ghana’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Congo at home (September 1) and on the road (September 5). He earned his 57th cap making a substitute appearance in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Ethiopia (November 18). Most recently, Mensah made a substitute appearance for the Black Stars during a friendly against South Africa (June 15).
At the youth level, Mensah has represented Ghana at the U-20 level, helping the Black Stars win the 2009 African Youth Championship and the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
ACQUIRED
Acquired as a Designated Player via a Discovery Signing on January 3, 2017.
Name: Jonathan Mensah
Position: Defender
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 183
Born: July 13, 1990 in Accra, Ghana
Citizenship: Ghana
Previous Experience: Anzhi Mackhachkala (2016), FC Evian (2011-2016), Granada CF (2010-2011), Free State Stars (2008-2009)
PERSONAL
Mensah is the son of Milicent and Evans. He has three siblings named Frank, Stanley, and Esther. Other sports he likes to watch are basketball and tennis. He loves to play table tennis and cool pool. Mensah’s favorite soccer player growing up was Nemanja Vidic. His favorite movie is Law Abiding Citizen. He speaks five languages: English, Spanish, French, Twi and Ga. Mensah’s favorite meal is banku and okro stew. His favorite soccer memory is winning the U-20 World Cup with Ghana in 2009.
