Two years later, Benjamin Mendy will put on the crampons. The player, acquitted by British justice on July 14 of charges of rape and attempted rape, will join FC Lorient for two seasons. He had been out of contract since the end of his lease with English club Manchester City.
“FC Lorient is pleased to announce today the signing for two seasons of French international left-back Benjamin Mendy (29),” FC Lorient said in a statement, almost two years after the defender’s last official match with Manchester City.
“After having satisfied the traditional medical examination, Benjamin Mendy, world champion 2018, quadruple winner of the Premier League under the colors of Manchester City and French champion of Ligue 1 with Monaco in particular, comes to reinforce the Lorient workforce for this new season, “said the Breton club. “The native of Longjumeau, who will wear number 5 with the Merlus, will take his first steps at Espace FCL (the training center, editor’s note) today”, adds FC Lorient.
His transfer comes five days after the end of his second trial in Chester (north of England), where he had been retried since the end of June for two charges of rape and attempted rape.
Found not guilty at a first trial, after four months of hearing, six rapes and a sexual assault, he was tried again, accused of the rape of a 24-year-old woman in October 2020 and of the attempted rape of a 29-year-old woman two years earlier, charges which he strongly contested, ensuring that these relations, which took place at his home, were consented to. Manchester City, who had suspended him, did not renew his contract which expired on June 30.
