Football News

Benjamin Mendy has had his High Court bankruptcy case dismissed after he paid a £700,000 tax bill by selling off his Cheshire mansion where he held lockdown parties with girls.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) had sought a bankruptcy order against the former Manchester City footballer over the bill.

At a hearing on Monday before a specialist insolvency judge, lawyers for the French defender said the outstanding sum of just under £710,000 had been paid.

Louis Doyle KC, for the footballer, said proceedings had been previously adjourned to allow for Mr Mendy's sprawling mansion near Macclesfield, Cheshire, to be sold.

The court heard the sum had not yet reached HMRC, but after receiving undertakings from lawyers, Chief Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Nicholas Briggs dismissed the bankruptcy proceedings against Mr Mendy.

Judge Briggs said: 'In the circumstances, there is nothing left in this petition... I shall accept the undertaking.

'I shall dismiss the petition with costs.'

Mr Doyle said in response: 'That order marks the end of these proceedings.'

'That's correct,' Judge Briggs replied.

Earlier on Monday, the High Court in London was told that Mr Mendy, 29, owes less than £5,000 in council tax to Cheshire East Council.

However, Mr Doyle said he was confident the debt would be paid promptly, adding that Mr Mendy 'won't have picked up post and won't have realised he's in debt to the borough council' as he has been away from the property.

At a hearing in February, the court heard that Mr Mendy was bringing legal action against his former club for £10million after Manchester City stopped paying him when he was charged with rape in 2021.

The footballer was cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in January 2023

Benjamin Mendy