French footballer Benjamin Mendy spent no time in finding a new club following his recent acquittal in a sex offence trial in England.
The former Manchester City and France defender has signed with Ligue 1 side Lorient, who announced the two-year deal on Wednesday.
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“Lorient are delighted to announce the signing of French international left-back Benjamin Mendy on a two-year contract,” the club stated in an official statement.
After a grueling three-year court process, Mendy, aged 29, was finally cleared of all sex offence charges last week.
The player had previously faced a six-month trial where he was acquitted of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
However, two other counts remained undecided, leading to a retrial that concluded with his recent exoneration.
Had he been convicted, Mendy would have faced a significant prison sentence. Throughout the trial, he staunchly denied all allegations levied against him.
His contract with English and European champions Manchester City had expired at the end of June, leaving him a free agent before the Lorient opportunity came in.
Mendy’s arrival at the French club comes almost two years after his last appearance for Manchester City.
The emotional weight of the trial’s outcome was evident as the 2018 World Cup winner broke down in relief at Chester Crown Court in northwest England when the not guilty verdicts on one count of rape and one of sexual assault were delivered.
Mendy’s time at Manchester City, whom he joined from French club Monaco in 2017 as the record signing for a defender, was marred by injuries and a decline in form. He made 75 appearances for the club before his departure.
The left-back’s international career saw him earn 10 caps for France, with his last match for the national team occurring in November 2019 after the French side’s World Cup triumph in Russia in 2018.
Lorient, who finished 10th in Ligue 1 last season, eagerly anticipates Mendy’s contributions to the team. The player is set to begin training with the club immediately after completing his medical examination.
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With the sex trial now behind him, Mendy can focus on reigniting his footballing career and putting the challenging period behind him.
Lorient hopes his skills and experience will bolster their squad as they strive for further success in the upcoming season.
