MANCHESTER City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been charged with rape and sexual assault, Cheshire Police confirmed today.

The 27-year-old defender, who also plays for the French national team, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday.

Mendy, of Withinlee Road, Prestbury, has been charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

The charges relate to three complainants over the age of 16 and are alleged to have taken place between October 2020 and August 2021.

The left-back has played for Manchester City since 2017, when he joined from Monaco for a reported £52 million.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "Cheshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service would like to remind everyone that criminal proceedings against Mendy are live and that he has a right to a fair trial.

"It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice ongoing proceedings."

In a statement, Manchester City said: “Manchester City can confirm that following his being charged by police today, Benjamin Mendy has been suspended pending an investigation.

“The matter is subject to a legal process and the club is therefore unable to make further comment until that process is complete.”