Benjamin Mendy signs for FC Lorient until 2025 only days after rape trial

Benjamin Mendy has signed for FC Lorient in France only days after he was found not guilty for rape charges. The left-back has not played since 2021, after the charges were initially pressed. He was released by Manchester City in June 2023 after his contract expired, and has now signed for a new club in Ligue 1 to make his return in football. The player has signed a contract until 2025. 

A number of footballers, such as Memphis Depay and Vinicius Jr came to the support of the player on social media. However, their backing of Mendy has been met with mixed reactions mainly due to the ambiguity surrounding the legitimacy of his innocence.

Benjamin Mendy signs for FC Lorient after being found not guilty 

The 29-year-old won three titles with City after becoming the most expensive defender in the Premier League when he was signed in 2017 from Monaco for £57 million. However, he didn’t quite live up to the hype with a number of errors during his time at the club. 

After being sidelined following the acquisitions, City have largely moved on and showed no plans to include him back in the squad. Now, he has taken up the task of seeing out the rest of his football career back in France with a two-year deal signed with FC Lorient. 

He was a part of the 2018 World Cup winning France squad, and has made 106 Ligue 1 appearances and is familiar with the league.