French defender Benjamin Mendy has won a legal battle against Manchester City over unpaid wages while he was facing rape charges.
Mendy, who was acquitted of raping one woman and attempting to rape another after a trial in 2023, had his £500,000-per-month salary halted by City in 2021 when he was arrested for a second time.
The former Monaco player, who joined City for £49 million in 2017, filed a claim for ‘unauthorized deductions’ from his wages, seeking around £11 million before tax. After a tribunal ruling, Mendy is entitled to most of this amount, though not all, given that he spent approximately five months in custody during the 22 months covered by his claim.
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The dispute stems from City’s decision to stop Mendy’s salary payments following his re-arrest in 2021, despite continuing to pay him after his first arrest in November 2020. Mendy’s contract included performance-related bonuses and image rights payments, which were also affected by his legal situation.
City argued that Mendy’s behavior, which included hosting parties at his mansion during the COVID-19 lockdown and allegedly violating bail conditions, led to his financial struggles. They claimed that his actions created a “moral hazard” and that he should bear the consequences, including the suspension of his pay.
Mendy, on the other hand, contended that he was told by the club’s former chief operating officer, Omar Berrada, that he would be paid once acquitted, but he received no communication when he sought clarification from Berrada and CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Mendy revealed that during this time, teammates like Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez provided financial support, and he was forced to sell his mansion to cover legal fees and other expenses.
Now playing for Ligue 2 club Lorient, Mendy had not featured for Manchester City since August 2021, when the rape allegations surfaced.