Manchester City and France footballer Benjamin Mendy has been charged with another count of rape, it was announced on Wednesday after the reporting ban was lifted.
The latest charge, which pertains to a new complainant, means the 27-year-old has now been charged with eight counts of rape, one sexual assault and one attempted rape, involving seven young women.
Mendy pleaded not guilty to prior charges last month. The latest is yet to put him in court.
The media were banned from publishing the latest allegation, but that ban was lifted by Judge Steven Everett during a hearing at Chester Crown Court in northwest England on Wednesday.
All the alleged crimes are said to have taken place between October 2018 and August last year at Mendy’s home address near Macclesfield in north-west England.
Mendy is due to go to trial before a jury on July 25 along with his co-defendant Louis Saha Maturi, 40, who has also pleaded not guilty.
Maturi denied eight cases of rape and four cases of sexual assault involving eight young women. His alleged offenses are from July 2012 to August last year.
Both the defendants are out on bail. None of the women who have been assaulted can be named under English law.
Mendy joined Premier League champion City from French side Monaco in 2017. He has played 75 times for the Manchester club, but his playing time has been limited by injuries and loss of form.
He was suspended by the City after the police made allegations.
Mendy’s last of 10 caps for France came after the defender won in November 2019 World Cup in 2018.
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