Manchester City has announced the release of Benjamin Mendy, a French defender who has been with the club for six years. The decision to release Mendy comes in the wake of his ongoing legal troubles, as he faces a retrial over rape and sexual assault claims. The full-back joined Man City in 2017 from Monaco for an impressive £52 million and made 75 appearances for the club.
In November 2020, Mendy was arrested following a rape claim by a 24-year-old woman in his home the previous month. Although he was released under investigation, he was later accused of sexually assaulting another woman, aged 24, two months later. While on police bail for that offence, he was further accused of the rape of three other women, one aged 17 – all charges of which he was cleared.
Mendy was suspended by his club in August 2021, after he was charged with rape. He will face a retrial on one count of rape and another of attempted rape on June 26. The club has yet to make an official announcement regarding his release, but the Premier League’s website of players released already lists Mendy.
Man City released a statement after Mendy was cleared of the seven charges, stating that they noted the verdict from Chester Crown Court and that the club is not in a position to comment further at this time due to open matters related to the case. Judge Steven Everett has stated that the prosecution has made a decision, and they will proceed on these counts in two separate trials.
Mendy’s release from Man City marks the end of an era for the French defender, who made a significant contribution to the club during his six years on the team. However, his legal troubles have overshadowed his achievements on the pitch, and his future in football remains uncertain. As the retrial approaches, the football world waits to see what the future holds for Mendy.
