England: footballer Benjamin Mendy targeted by a new accusation of rape

Manchester City's French defender Benjamin Mendy, already accused of seven rapes, an attempted rape and a sexual assault, has been accused of a new rape by another woman, AFP learned on Wednesday from a judicial source.

Benjamin Mendy, who had not yet been formally notified of this new charge, has not yet had to rule on his defense.

Nine days ago, the 27-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges against him by six women, while another rape charge, brought by another woman, was added to the list.

The judge presiding over the hearing had ordered the press not to mention it until the ban was lifted on Wednesday.

The ten counts brought against Benjamin Mendy relate to facts which allegedly took place between October 2018 and August 2021 at his home in Prestbury, Cheshire, south of Manchester.

He will appear in court with a jury on July 25.

The player will appear in court with a jury on July 25 alongside co-defendant, 40-year-old Louis Saha Matturie.

This man (he has no relation to the Frenchman Louis Saha) is prosecuted for eight rapes and four sexual assaults on eight women between July 2012 and August 2021. He also pleaded not guilty.

After several months in pre-trial detention, the 2018 world champion was released in early January and placed under judicial supervision, pending his trial which is due to open on July 25.

The case started at the end of August 2021 when the Manchester City club announced the suspension of the player, under contract until June 2023, without further explanation.

English justice then quickly announced that the player had been placed in pre-trial detention after being accused of four rapes and a sexual assault, by three women including a minor.

Other charges were then added.

Trained in Le Havre, revealed in Marseille and spent a season with Monaco, Benjamin Mendy became the most expensive defender in history in 2017 when the Citizens paid 52 million pounds (about 61.4 million euros at the current price). ) to secure his services.

When he arrived at City, he was considered one of the great French and world hopes for the left-back position.