Benjamin Mendy is released by Manchester City ahead of rape and sexual assault retrial

Benjamin Mendy has been released by Manchester City after six years at the club – with the French defender set to face a retrial over rape and sexual assault claims, having been cleared of seven other charges.

The left-back’s departure has not been officially confirmed by City, but his name appeared on the Premier League‘s list of players let go by their clubs following the end of the season. 

Mendy joined City in 2017 from Monaco for £52million and went on to make 75 appearances before he was arrested in November 2020 following a claim of rape by a 24-year-old woman in his home the previous month. 

He was released under investigation before he was later accused of sexually assaulting another woman, aged 24, two months later, and while on police bail for that offence, was accused of the rape of three other women, one aged 17 – all offences of which he was cleared.

Mendy was suspended by his club in August 2021, after he was charged with rape. 

The French defender has not played for City since 2021 after being suspended over rape and sexual assault claims. He was cleared of seven charges and faces a retrial this month

He will face a retrial – lasting three weeks – on one count of rape and another of attempted rape on June 26. 

After Mendy was cleared of the seven charges, Man City said in a statement: ‘We note the verdict from Chester Crown Court today, where a jury has found Benjamin Mendy not guilty of seven charges. The jury is hung on two charges and the trial is now over.

‘Given there are open matters related to this case, the club is not in a position to comment further at this time.’

Judge Steven Everett told the court: ‘The prosecution has made a decision. We have made a decision today, which is to proceed on these counts in two separate trials and we seek today a provisional case management.’