Benjamin Mendy in line to immediately return to England and play Premier League club

BENJAMIN Mendy is set for an immediate return to English football just days after being cleared of rape.

The World Cup winner has made a quickfire comeback to the game following his acquittal at Chester Crown Court last Friday.

The French former Manchester City defender has signed for a new club who are about to take on English opponents.

Mendy, 29, today joined Lorient, who play in France's top-flight Ligue 1.

And that move puts him in line to feature in their pre-season friendly next month against a Premier League club.

Lorient are due to take on Bournemouth at the Dorset side's Vitality Stadium on August 5.

Mendy left Man City by mutual consent last month at the expiration of his contract, having not played for the Premier League and Champions League winners since 2021.

The footballer was cleared of rape and attempted rape last week.

He smiled for the camera just hours after a jury cleared him of attempting to rape a woman aged 29 as she showered at his home in October 2018.

He was also found not guilty of raping a 24-year-old woman in his bedroom at his £4.8million mansion in Prestbury, Cheshire, two years later.

On Friday evening he celebrated his freedom with pals by going out.

And he turned up at the Pitts complex in Ardwick, Manchester, on Sunday for a kickabout with strangers.

Mendy had last played for City against Tottenham Hotspur in August 2021 before being suspended by the club later that month when he was arrested.

Lorient finished 10th in France last season, while Bournemouth came 15th in the Premier League under manager Gary O'Neil - but he was replaced last month by Spain's Andoni Iraola.

Mendy's new team-mates at Lorient include ex-Arsenal and Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone and midfielder Roman Faivre, who is on loan from Bournemouth.