French defender Benjamin Mendy has won a significant legal battle against his former club, Manchester City, securing the majority of his £11 million claim for unpaid wages while he faced rape charges.
Mendy, who was cleared of all charges last year, had been accused of raping a woman at his £4 million mansion and attempting to rape another.
Despite being acquitted in 2023, his legal troubles resulted in Manchester City halting his £500,000-per-month salary in 2021 after he was arrested for the second time.
The 29-year-old, who joined City for £49 million from Monaco in 2017, responded by taking the club to an employment tribunal, arguing that his wages had been unfairly withheld.
His claim, which amounted to around £11 million before tax, included salary payments, bonuses, and other contractual obligations.
The tribunal’s ruling means Mendy will receive most of the £11 million, though the exact amount will be decided after further discussions between Mendy and the club.
Mendy’s claim covered a 22-month period, during which he spent around five months in custody.
Initially, City continued to pay Mendy after his first arrest in November 2020, but when he was re-arrested the following year, the club stopped his salary payments.
READ ALSO: Ruud van Nistelrooy Offers to Assist Ruben Amorim’s Team at United
Mendy’s contract included various performance-related bonuses, including a £900,000 payment for appearing in 60% of matches, £1 million if the team qualified for the Champions League, and a £1.2 million annual payment to his image rights company.
Mendy contended that City had assured him he would receive his wages once acquitted, but he claimed to have received no response from City officials, including then-COO Omar Berrada and CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak, when he sought clarification.
The case also shed light on the financial support Mendy received from his teammates, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez, who helped him during his difficult period.
Mendy also revealed that he was forced to sell his Cheshire mansion to cover legal costs, bills, and child support.
City, however, argued that Mendy’s actions, which included hosting parties at his mansion during the COVID-19 lockdown and breaching bail conditions, were irresponsible and led to his legal issues.
They claimed that his behavior should have consequences and that he was attempting to use his contract to shield himself from the fallout of his actions.
Mendy now plays for Lorient in France’s Ligue 2 after his Manchester City contract expired in 2022. He had not played for City since August 2021 due to the rape charges.
