Benjamin Mendy, the Manchester City defender, sat at Chester Crown Court in the north of England on Wednesday, entering a not guilty plea to eight counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, and two counts of sexual assault. Prosecutors allege that the offences were committed against seven young women between October 2018 and August of the following year, a period that encompasses the date of his arrest.
Following the today’s preliminary hearing, magistrates will appoint a jury to hear the case and determine the defendant’s guilt or innocence. The trial, in which the French international will stand as the defendant, is scheduled to begin next Monday and is expected to run for around three months.
Mendy has previously claimed his innocence on most of the charges. In May, he stated that he would plead not guilty to all charges except one. He has been subject to probation since January, from which he reportedly requested exemption today.
The footballer was suspended by his club shortly after the initial charges emerged. He later indicated that he would not comment further on the case until the legal process had progressed.
As a member of the French national team, the player contributed to France’s success at the 2018 World Cup. He has represented the country ten times in competitive matches, and since joining Manchester City from Monaco in 2017 has appeared in over fifty Premier League games.