Rwanda international Leroy-Jacques Mickels has signed for German third-tier side SV Waldhof Mannheim after leaving Azerbaijani club Zira FK at the end of his contract.
The 31-year-old winger returns to Germany following a one-season spell with Zira, where he made 32 appearances and scored four goals. He shared the dressing room with fellow Rwanda international defender Ange Mutsinzi.
Mickels last played in Germany in 2023 with Rot-Weiß Oberhausen before moving to Azerbaijan.
Waldhof Mannheim finished 10th in the 20-team 3. Liga last season and have competed in Germany’s third tier since the 2019-20 campaign. The club last played in the Bundesliga during the 1989-90 season.
Born in Siegburg, Germany, Mickels is eligible to represent Rwanda through his Rwandan father, while his mother is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He has made an impressive start to his international career, scoring twice in his first two appearances for the Amavubi. Mickels scored on his debut in Rwanda’s 4-0 victory over Grenada in the FIFA Series on March 27, 2026, before finding the net again in a 2-0 win over Estonia three days later as Rwanda lifted the tournament title.
Mickels is expected to feature in head coach Stephen Constantine’s squad for Rwanda’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Rwanda have been drawn in Group C alongside Mali, Cape Verde and Liberia, with their opening qualifier against Liberia scheduled for August 31, 2026.
