Benjamin Mendy has made a quick return to football just five days after being cleared of rape and attempted rape, with the former Manchester City defender joining French club Lorient.

 

The French footballer, 28, was accused of carrying out sex attacks on two women at his £4million mansion, only to be cleared after three hours of deliberation by a jury at Chester Crown Court last Friday.

 

Mendy had already been cleared of six counts of r3pe and one count of se3ual assault after a court case in January, yet faced a retrial on one count of rape and one count of attempted rape during lockdown-busting parties.

 

And five days after being cleared as a free man, Mendy has already returned to football after signing with Lorient.

 

In a club statement on Wednesday, the Ligue 1 outfit confirmed is due to arrive at their training ground on Wednesday after putting pen to paper on a two-year contract. Mendy will wear the No 5 shirt for Lorient.

 

Mendy, who last played for City back in August 2021, officially left the Premier League champions when his contract expired earlier this month. Lorient were therefore able to sign him on a free transfer.

 

Mendy wept when he was cleared last week, with his lawyers saying he will now go on to ‘rebuild his life’.

 

The emotional star declined to comment outside court only to say: ‘Alhamdulillah,’ an Arabic phrase meaning: ‘Praise be to God’.

 

 

Mendy made 75 appearances for City from 2017 up until his final appearance in August 2021, winning three Premier League titles and two League Cups.

 

He previously played in France for Monaco, Marseille, and Le Havre. He is set to reignite his football career back in his home country with Lorient, who finished 10th in Ligue 1 last season.