Benjamin Mendy selling £5m house and chasing back pay, bankruptcy court told

Ex-Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is chasing millions of pounds of back pay from his former club and is selling his house in a bid to avoid bankruptcy, the High Court in London has heard.

The UK's tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), is seeking a bankruptcy order against the footballer over a nearly £800,000 (€930,000) tax debt, a specialist judge was told.

The hearing on Wednesday comes less than a month after the 29-year-old was cleared of rape and attempted rape at Chester Crown Court.

Jacquille Jarrett, representing HMRC, said proceedings at the UK's Insolvency and Companies Court had previously been postponed pending the outcome of the criminal trial and for a settlement of Mr Mendy’s debt from backdated salary or the sale of his property.

“There has been no contact from the debtor,” Ms Jarrett said, adding: “The agreement advises that an update would be given to HMRC but no contact was made.

“We look to secure a bankruptcy order today.”

Mr Mendy’s accountant, who refused to give reporters his full name, told the hearing the footballer “was found not guilty in respect of those very serious criminal charges against him”.

He said Manchester City had not paid Mr Mendy, who was not present at Wednesday’s hearing, since September 2021.

The accountant said the footballer’s agent is “in negotiations with Manchester City to get the back pay on the basis that he has been found not guilty”.

The sum is “in the order of nine to 10 million pounds gross”, the accountant told the court.

He also said Mr Mendy’s house near Macclesfield, Cheshire, is being marketed by estate agent Savills for £5 million.

“He himself has moved back to France where he comes from,” the accountant said.

“I would like to ask for a short