Benjamin Mendy, the former Manchester City defender, has secured a two-year contract with Ligue 1 club Lorient, marking a swift return to football shortly after being acquitted of charges of rape and attempted rape by a jury at Chester Crown Court.
The 28-year-old French footballer had been accused of engaging in sexual attacks on two women at his £4million mansion. However, after three hours of jury deliberation at Chester Crown Court, he was found not guilty last Friday. Prior to this trial, Mendy had already been cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in a court case that took place in January. The recent retrial focused on one count of rape and one count of attempted rape, alleged to have occurred during lockdown-busting parties.
Having been exonerated just five days ago, Mendy wasted no time in resuming his football career. Lorient confirmed the signing of the player through an official statement, with Mendy expected to join their training ground imminently. He will don the No. 5 shirt for the Ligue 1 outfit.
Mendy had been a key figure at Manchester City, making 75 appearances for the club and contributing to their success with three Premier League titles and two League Cups. He last played for City in August 2021, and upon the expiration of his contract earlier this month, Lorient was able to sign him as a free agent.
After the verdict was announced, Mendy expressed his emotions, shedding tears of relief. He refrained from providing further comments outside the court, except for expressing gratitude with the Arabic phrase, 'Alhamdulillah,' meaning 'Praise be to God.'
With his legal ordeal behind him, Mendy is now set to focus on rebuilding his life while reigniting his football career in his home country of France. Before his time at Manchester City, Mendy played for clubs such as Monaco, Marseille, and Le Havre. Lorient, who finished 10th in Ligue 1 last season, offers him a new opportunity to showcase his skills and make a fresh start.
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