Footballer Benjamin Mendy charged with two additional counts of rape

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been charged with two additional counts of rape, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

The 27-year-old France international, who cost the English Premier League champions over £50m in 2017, was already facing four counts of rape and one sexual assault.

The accusations against the World Cup winner come from four different women.

The Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement that it had authorised Cheshire police to charge Mendy with two additional counts of rape and Louis Saha Matturie, 40, with two additional counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Mendy, of Withinlee Road, Prestbury, Cheshire, and Matturie, of Edwin Court, Eccles, will appear at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on November 17.

He now faces six counts of rape and one of sexual assault which relate to four complainants over the age of 16.

All the offences on his charge sheet are alleged to have taken place between October 2020 and August 2021.

The left-back was the world’s most expensive player in his position when he joined Man City from Monaco four years ago.

In a trophy-laden career he has won the French Ligue 1, three English Premier Leagues and was part of the France team who lifted the World Cup in 2018.

He is currently remanded in custody at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool and has been suspended from City since the accusations came to light in August.

A police spokesman said: “Cheshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service would like to remind everyone that criminal proceedings against Matturie and Mendy are live and that they have a right to a fair trial.”

Both men are scheduled to go on trial on January 24 2022.