Marseille Born in
Marseille, France, at the age of just ten, Merlin was training with hometown club Olympique de Marseille. From the youth team there he was able to make a name for himself, and soon found himself in Olympique de Marseille 2, the Marseille reserve team. Whilst at Marseille, Laurent only played in two matches and soon found himself surplus to requirements at l'Ohème.
Ajaccio and Châteauroux loan In 2004 Merlin signed for fellow
Ligue 1 side,
Corsica-based,
AC Ajaccio. At Ajaccio, he played twelve games in his first two seasons, ten more than when at Olympique de Marseille, a club at which he had been a part of the senior squad for two seasons. In these twelve games, he scored one goal. In the following season, Merlin started one game for Ajaccio, soon becoming another back-up player. In the early months of 2006 Merlin was loaned to lower league, French side,
LB Châteauroux. However, he started three games before returning to Ajaccio.
Chivas USA Merlin took part in
Major League Soccer side
Los Angeles Galaxy's first ever open tryout in February 2007. The tryout was highly publicized in anticipation of the signing of David Beckham by the Galaxy. Through two days of intense competition with over 800 players from all over the world, he was one of two to survive four rounds of cuts and earn a trial with the Galaxy. However, he then signed for local rivals side
Chivas USA. He played 22 games for the club, scoring one goal, before he was waived in 2007.
Cassis Carnoux During the 2009–10 season, Merlin played for French
Championnat National side
Cassis Carnoux. He left the club following their relegation at the end of the season. In July 2010, he had trials in England with
Premier League sides
Wigan Athletic and
Blackpool.
Italy In mid-2011 he left for
U.S. Latina Calcio, Lega Pro 1 Divisione. ==International career==