Benjamin Mendy finds a new club just days after sexual assault trial

French footballer Benjamin Mendy has joined Ligue 1 team Lorient on a two-year deal after being found not guilty of crimes relating to sexual assault.

The French World Cup winner will kick start his career just five days after hearing the not-guilty verdict. The fullback hasn't played in two years.

Lorient finished tenth in Ligue 1 last season, and Mendy will begin work with the team this week.

According to metro.com, the club released a statement saying: "FC Lorient is pleased to announce today the signing for two seasons of French international left-back Benjamin Mendy."

"The native of Longjumeau, who will wear number five with the Merlus, will take his first steps at Espace FCL today. Welcome, Benjamin!"

After signing for his new club, here's a look at Mendy's case and how the footballing world reacted to his not-guilty verdict.

The former Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy was found not guilty after facing multiple charges of sexual assault.

The acquittals meant the defender has been found not guilty of allegations made against him by six women.

Manchester City stopped paying their former full-back in September 2021, shortly after being charged. However, at the first trial, City boss Pep Guardiola called Mendy a 'really good boy.'

The women accused him of assaulting them between October 2018 and August 2021 at a £4.8 million mansion in a gated community in Cheshire.

Since he has been found not guilty, a wealth of footballers have come out to support the French World Cup winner, explaining he deserves to play football again.

According to Vinicius Junior's Twitter account, the Real Madrid winger said: "I'm sorry for everything you've been through, Benjamin Mendy. The culture of destroying reputations has made yet another victim."

According to Memphis Depay's Twitter account, he said: "Who's going to be Responsible for the damage on his name? How he's going to have his career back? Many years of investment to become a professional football player... Now what!?"

On Instagram, former Manchester United midfielder and French teammate Paul Pogba said: "So happy for you brother, can't wait to see you on the pitch again."

During the first trial, Mendy explained he was 'direct' with women and 'often' had unprotected sex with numerous women on the same night, explaining this in the second trial.

At his court trial, Mendy explained that 'it wasn't difficult' to meet women due to his status as a Premier League footballer and said he enjoyed having sexual intercourse with lots of different women.

Women's groups have spoken out against Mendy's footballing piers for supporting him, leaving many thinking that footballers have seen the 'not guilty' conclusion without reading the full case.

Picture – Instagram @memphisdepay

The majority of footballers didn't have a problem playing in Qatar at the World Cup in December despite issues with human rights, women's rights, and LGBTQ rights in the country.

For footballers, as inherently selfish as they are, the rights in Qatar had no direct impact on them, but in the case of Mendy, they feel that's a battle they could deal with at any time in their careers.

Mendy's case can be seen as an attack on them all, as they could have their wealth and role model status taken away from them just like that.

Perhaps they are right in some respects, knowing they can lose everything in one allegation. Despite that, footballers need to do a better job educating themselves on a case and about the trauma of sexual assault on women.

Despite the mixed reviews of his not-guilty verdict, Mendy now has a second chance at football, potentially turning his life around and educating people for the good of the world.