Benjamin Mendy, the former Manchester City defender, is pursuing legal action against the club to reclaim lost earnings amounting to £10 million. Mendy faced suspension from City in August 2021 following four counts of rape charges but was subsequently found not guilty of all allegations.
City suspended Mendy without pay from September 2021 until the expiration of his contract in June 2023, citing his unavailability for work during the period of bail and trial. He spent over four months in custody and was released on bail in January 2022 with conditions preventing him from entering Greater Manchester and surrendering his passport. City is reportedly surprised by Mendy’s legal action.
The 29-year-old’s legal representative, Nick De Marco KC, is handling the multimillion-pound claim for unauthorized wage deductions. The statement indicates that City failed to pay Mendy wages from September 2021 until the end of his contract despite his subsequent acquittal on all charges. The case is scheduled to be heard before an employment tribunal.
Following Mendy’s retrial conclusion, where he was acquitted of outstanding charges, he signed with Ligue 1 side Lorient in July. Mendy and his agent have approached City seeking to recover the alleged lost earnings, estimated between £9 million and £10 million gross. As no agreement has been reached, the matter is heading to an employment tribunal.
In a separate development, HM Revenue and Customs have sought a bankruptcy order against Mendy for a tax debt of nearly £800,000. Mendy expressed his desire to discharge the debt promptly during a high court hearing on October 4, acknowledging the financial difficulty he faces.
