Endo and Orel Mangala – from VfB Stuttgart via Lyon to Getafe

In the sunny stadium of Getafe, an enthusiastic crowd watches as the 28-year-old Orel Mangala directs the midfield – he has started six of seven league games, five times playing the full distance, and provides creative impetus to the defensively oriented team.

Early Years and Rise with the Swabians

Angel Martinez/GettyImages: From 2017 to 2022, Orel Mangala was active for five years at VfB Stuttgart. The Swabians brought the then 19-year-old aboard from the U21‑Anderlecht for €1.5 million after their promotion to the Bundesliga.

Together with Wataru Endo, Mangala formed a strong double six that at times developed into one of the best central midfield partnerships in the entire Bundesliga. In 2019, a successful loan to Hamburger SV followed, where he gained further experience.

English and French Transfer Marathon

After his move to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2022, Stuttgart received a transfer fee of €13 million. In England, Mangala made 47 appearances over two seasons before leaving the club in 2024.

In the winter of 2024, a loan to Olympique Lyon for just under €12 million took place, followed by a permanent signing in the summer for an additional €23.4 million – making him the most expensive transfer in the club’s history. At Lyon, he featured in only nine Ligue 1 matches before being loaned on to Everton.

At Everton, he delivered a decent performance in the first half of the season, but in January 2025 he suffered an ACL tear that sidelined him for about ten months.

Current Role at Getafe in LaLiga

After his return to Lyon, where he again played nine Ligue 1 games, the next loan came in the summer for the now 28-year-old Mangala. In LaLiga he now plays for Getafe, where he is regarded as a central creative force and has already started in six of the first seven league matches.