Benjamin Mendy has successfully won a legal battle against Manchester City over unpaid wages, securing the majority of his £11 million salary after being cleared of rape charges.
The former Manchester City defender, who was acquitted in 2023 after a retrial on charges of rape and attempted rape, had his £500,000-a-month wages withheld by the club after his second arrest in 2021. Despite the legal troubles, Mendy was assured by City’s then-COO, Omar Berrada, that he would receive his wages upon acquittal. However, after his release, Mendy’s efforts to contact City executives for clarification went unanswered.
Mendy’s claim to the tribunal was for “unauthorised deductions” from his wages, amounting to around £11 million before tax. While the tribunal ruled that Mendy would be entitled to the majority of this sum, it took into account the five months he spent in custody during the 22-month period of the claim. The final amount will either be agreed upon by both parties or decided in a future hearing.
City argued that Mendy’s behaviour, which allegedly involved throwing parties during the lockdown and breaching bail conditions, led to the withholding of his wages. However, Mendy denied that his actions should affect his salary entitlement, emphasizing that he had been wrongfully deprived of his wages despite his acquittal.
The 30-year-old defender, who now plays for Lorient in Ligue 2 after his contract with City expired, had previously sold his Cheshire mansion to cover his legal fees and living expenses, with financial support from teammates like Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez.
Mendy, who was deeply affected by the ordeal, expressed his relief and gratitude after his acquittal, declaring, “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to God).
