Xavier Junior Mandza Tsiendi

Xavier Junior Mandza Tsiendi, more commonly known simply as Xavier Mandza or Junior Mandza, (born 6 April 2009) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or midfielder for Ligue 1 club Nice.

Born and grown in Nice, Xavier Mandza joined the OGC Nice academy in 2015, aged only 6, spending all his youth years with the club, where he emerged as one of its brightest prospects, along the likes of Kaïl Boudache, Everton, Hamza Koutoune or Djibril Coulibaly.

During the 2025–26 season [fr], he was a standout with the under-19 team, most notably in the Coupe Gambardella as they went past the likes of Monaco and Olympique de Marseille's academy [fr], only losing to the eventual finalists, Megnan-Pavé's Montpellier.

Mandza signed his first professional contract with the club on the summer 2026, despite being reportedly very close join Serie A giant Juventus.

Initially playing as a box-to-box midfielder, he was repositioned as a centre-back in Olivier Pantaloni's 3–4–3 during Nice pre-season friendlies.

Mandza made his professional debut for Nice on the 22 August 2026, starting in a 0–0 home Ligue 1 draw to Lorient, where he impressed, showing calm and control for this first game.

Mandza is a youth international for France, first receiving a call with the under-17 in September 2025.

Xavier Mandza is the son of former Gabon international Thierry Mandza.

• Xavier Mandza at L'Équipe (in French)