Club History

Founded in 2018.

BÉNIR was founded with one ambition: to bring together football, faith and fashion.

The club began during one of the most difficult periods of founder Demetri Mitchell's career. After making his first-team debut for Manchester United, what felt like the beginning of a dream quickly turned into 18 months on the sidelines following a serious knee injury that required three surgeries.

Like many footballers, everything had been invested into the game. The injury became a reminder that football doesn't last forever, and it sparked the desire to build something with a purpose beyond the pitch. BÉNIR became that purpose—a project to stay focused on during recovery and something meaningful to carry into life after football.

While the journey has brought its share of setbacks, one thing has remained constant: faith.

Faith provided strength during the toughest moments and belief that every setback was part of a bigger plan. More than a decade after that injury, Demetri is still playing professional football, while BÉNIR continues to grow thanks to the support of a community that has believed in the vision from day one.

But this is only the beginning.

One of the club's long-term ambitions is to create a non-profit football team that gives opportunities to talented players who slipped through the traditional academy system or never received the chance they deserved. It may still be a distant goal, but every great club starts with a vision, and we believe that, by God's grace, it can become a reality.

The name BÉNIR comes from the French word meaning "to bless." That has always been the mission—to create something that inspires, gives back and leaves people better than we found them.

This is more than a clothing brand.

Welcome to the BÉNIR Club.