'Played very badly' - Man City's former £52m defender looking for another new club

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• Benjamin Mendy

Benjamin Mendy is struggling to get his career back on track after his departure from Manchester City two years ago.

Benjamin Mendy has struggled at Lorient and FC Zurich since leaving Manchester City

Benjamin Mendy is on the hunt for another new club after his contract with Swiss Super League side FC Zurich was terminated with immediate affect.

The left-back struggled to make an impact in Switzerland and was recently criticised for his performances by club president Ancillo Canepa, which had suggested a departure might be coming.

Mendy signed for FC Zurich in February and agreed a contract until the summer of 2026, but that deal has now been ended early by mutual consent.

A statement on the club website read: "FC Zurich announces that the contract with French defender Benjamin Mendy has been terminated by mutual consent. He is leaving the city club with immediate effect.

"FCZ wishes Benjamin Mendy all the best for his private and sporting future."

Mendy, 31, made just eight appearances for the club and has struggled to get his career back on track since leaving the Etihad in January 2023. He initially signed for French club Lorient but played just 15 times there before his departure.

Speaking about Mendy's impact in Switzerland last month, FC Zurich president Canepa said: "It's certainly not what we expected. Mentally and physically, he wasn't at his best at all, played very badly, conceded goals and got injured. All in all, it wasn't a happy story."

Mendy is now looking for another club after a second disappointing spell since leaving City, where his career came off the rails after he was charged by the police over alleged sexual offences.

Mendy was suspended by City in August 2021 when he was charged by the police over multiple counts of rape and one alleged sexual assault. The Frenchman was cleared of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault, and subsequently cleared over a further count of rape and one attempted rape in a retrial in July 2023.

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