Benjamin Mendy returns to professional football after being cleared of rape

Benjamin Mendy has completed his return to professional football after he was cleared of rape and other sexual allegations following a court battle. The 29-year-old today played his first game since being found not guilty of all allegations following two crown court trials.

Days after the verdicts were announced in July, Mendy, once the world's most expensive defender after Manchester City paid £52 million to sign him, revealed he had agreed a deal with French side Lorient.

This afternoon he came off the bench to play in the Ligue 1 side's 2-2 draw against Monaco. It is more than two years since Mendy last played a professional game, in City's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in August 2021.

READ MORE: 'Russell Brand made millions from our fling - I was a young woman dazzled by a celebrity'

READ MORE: The M.E.N.'s top stories right now

He was arrested that month and was held in prison for more than four months to await his trial, before being released on bail. Mendy was charged with eight counts of rape, one count of sexual assault, and one of attempted rape, with the allegations relating to seven women.

Following two trials held at Chester Crown Court, the first starting in August last year and lasting six months, and the second running for two weeks, Mendy was found not guilty of all allegations. He wept in the dock as the not guilty verdicts were read out.

Following his release from court, his lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, head of serious and general crime at Hickman & Rose, said: "Benjamin Mendy would like to thank the members of the jury for focussing on the evidence in this trial, rather than on the rumour and innuendo that have followed this case from the outset.

"This is the second time that Mr Mendy has been tried and