Benjamin Mendy – The former Premier League star and world champion with France was acquitted of rape and attempted rape charges by a jury at Chester Crown Court on Friday. Earlier this year, the footballer was acquitted of several sex crimes against women. However, the jury failed to reach a verdict on the two charges, and a retrial was held, and he was acquitted last week. On Wednesday, French Ligue 1 club FC Lorient announced the signing of the 29-year-old.
A spokesperson for Lorient FC said in a statement: “The club is pleased to announce today that France international Benjamin Mendy has signed a two-season contract. “Mendy has passed his medical and is coming to strengthen the team for the new season.” He will meet his new teammates at the club’s Espace FCL training ground later today. City paid Monaco £52m in 2017, making Mendy the highest-paid defender in the Premier League.
He won three titles with Manchester City and was part of France’s World Cup winning side in 2018. Mendy last played for the reigning Premier League champions in August 2021 before being sacked by Manchester at the end of June when his contract expired.