Benjamin Mendy wins the battle with Manchester City for his unpaid wages following the accusations of rape.

Benjamin Mendy, once a star for Manchester City, has now won a large portion of his claim for unpaid wages following his legal battles.

Back in 2021, Mendy’s £500,000-a-month salary was stopped when he faced serious charges. He brought his case to an employment tribunal, arguing that his wages were unfairly withheld during the trials.

The 30-year-old footballer, who now plays for Lorient in France’s Ligue 2, claimed that Manchester City had made “unauthorized deductions” from his salary. Today, a judge ruled in Mendy’s favor, deciding that he should receive most of the wages owed to him from his time under contract with the Premier League club.

Employment Judge Joanne Dunlop, who presided over the case, concluded that although Mendy wouldn’t receive the full amount he claimed, he was entitled to a significant portion. She noted that while he wasn’t in custody, Mendy had been “ready and willing” to fulfill his contract with City. The judge found that he was ultimately prevented from doing so due to circumstances beyond his control.

Now, the club and Mendy will need to calculate exactly how much he should be paid. If they can’t agree on an amount, a future hearing might be necessary to settle the details.

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During the tribunal, it was revealed that Mendy’s contract included not only his monthly salary but also additional bonuses. For instance, he stood to earn a £900,000 bonus if he appeared in 60% of the team’s matches and an extra £1 million if City qualified for the Champions League. Additionally, there was an annual payment of £1.2 million directed to Mendy’s image rights company.

However, a month after his charges were filed, Manchester City informed Mendy that his wages would be halted, citing that he was “not presently ready and able” to meet his contract’s obligations. Mendy claimed he had been assured by City’s then-chief football operating officer, Omar Berrada, that his wages would be resumed if he was found innocent.

In November 2022, after he was cleared, Mendy reportedly reached out to Berrada for confirmation of this agreement but received no response. He also claimed he got no answer from Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Manchester City’s chief executive.

As his funds dwindled, Mendy told the tribunal he had to borrow money from teammates, including Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez, just to make ends meet. Additionally, he had to sell his Cheshire home to cover mounting legal fees, living expenses, and child support payments.

The tribunal also heard arguments from Sean Jones KC, representing Manchester City, who suggested that Mendy bore responsibility for the wage suspension. Jones highlighted reports of parties held at Mendy’s home during lockdown and alleged bail violations, implying that Mendy’s behavior impacted his job readiness.

Jones further argued that Mendy’s claim suggested he believed he should face no financial consequences for his behavior. He stated, “The essence of Mr. Mendy’s submission is that his contract creates a moral hazard.” Jones contended that Mendy seemed to argue his behavior should not affect his right to payment, regardless of the circumstances.

Mendy joined Manchester City in 2017 from AS Monaco on a six-year contract valued at £49.2 million. Despite being initially paid after his first arrest in November 2020, he stopped receiving his salary following a second arrest in 2021. His contract expired in June 2023, and he had not played for City since that second arrest.

After enduring two trials, Mendy was eventually found not guilty of all charges against him. His ordeal highlights the complexity of cases involving high-profile athletes, contracts, and legal issues.