Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has signed for a new club – days after he was found not guilty of rape and attempted rape.

The ex-Premier League star and World Cup winner with France was found not guilty of rape and attempted rape by a jury at Chester Crown Court on Friday.

Earlier this year, the footballer had been found not guilty of sexual offences against a number of women.

But the jury were unable to reach verdicts on the two charges and there was a retrial, in which he was found not guilty last week.

On Wednesday, French Ligue 1 side FC Lorient announced they had signed the 29-year-old.

In a statement, a spokesperson for FC Lorient wrote: “The club is pleased to announce today the signing for two seasons of French international left-back Benjamin Mendy.

“After passing a medical examination, Mendy comes to reinforce the team for this new season.”

He is to join his new teammates at the club’s Espace FCL training ground later today.

Mendy became the Premier League’s most expensive defender when City paid £52m to Monaco for him in 2017.

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He won three titles with Manchester City and was part of France’s World Cup-winning squad in 2018.

Mendy was released by the Manchester club when his contract expired at the end of June, having last played for the current Premier League champions in August 2021.

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