Manchester City suspend Benjamin Mendy following rape, sexual assault charges

Manchester City have been in the news every day this week for their pursuits of Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane and Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, but the reigning Premier League champions found themselves in headlines Thursday following the development of a disturbing story. 

According to Sky Sports and other outlets, City suspended defender and France international Benjamin Mendy after Mendy was officially charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault on Thursday. The 27-year-old is due to appear in court on Friday related to charges linked with alleged incidents said to have happened between October of last year and some point earlier this month.

"The matter is subject to a legal process and the Club is therefore unable to make further comment until that process is complete," City explained in their brief statement. 

Mendy joined City from Monaco in the summer of 2017 and is a three-time Premier League champion who has also been part of two English League Cup title-winning squads. Per ESPN stats, he was an unused substitute in the 2021 Champions League final that City lost to Chelsea in late May. 

Cheshire police released an official statement regarding the matter: