Benjamin Mendy signs for new club after Man City release

Benjamin Mendy has resumed his football career, a week on from being found not guilty of the remaining charges against him.

Mendy was unanimously acquitted and left court on Friday as a free man after being found not guilty of one charge of rape and one of attempted rape, having also been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault in January.

Under contract by Manchester City at the time of those charges being brought, Mendy was suspended, and was released at the end of the 2022/23 season when his contract expired.

Now, he has signed a two-year deal with Lorient, who play in the top tier in his native France, as the 29-year-old looks to rebuild his career.

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In a short statement, Lorient said they were pleased to announce Mendy's signing, and noted that he had 'satisfied the traditional medical examination' required to sign for the club.

Mendy joined City from Ligue 1, after representing Le Havre, Marseille and Monaco before making the £52m transfer to the Etihad in 2017. He played 50 times for City across four injury-disrupted seasons, before his suspension in 2021. He has ten caps for France, winning the World Cup with his nation in 2018.