Man City defender Mendy charged with additional count of rape

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been charged with a further count of rape.

The 27-year-old Frenchman, who was initially charged on August 26, now faces seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault relating to five women.

Reporting restrictions have been lifted after Mendy appeared at Chester Crown Court for a hearing prior to his trial, which was put back after initially being scheduled for January.

The charges brought against Mendy relate to incidents that are alleged to have taken place between October 2020 and August 2021.

He was denied bail for a second time at the start of October and remains in custody.

A 40-year-old man, who was also arrested as part of an ongoing investigation, was charged with six counts of rape and one of sexual assault.

Mendy was suspended by Premier League champions City following the initial charges in August.

He moved to England from Monaco in 2017 and has taken in 75 appearances for City, with one of those coming in the 2021-22 campaign.