Benjamin Mendy pictured in FC Lorient colours for the first time after ex-Man City defender secured sensational return to football

Benjamin Mendy has been pictured holding the FC Lorient kit after securing a return to football on Wednesday.

Just five days later, it was confirmed that the 29-year-old full-back had signed a two-year contract with FC Lorient in Ligue 1.

And, following the news, the former France international has been pictured with the Lorient kit as he prepares to get to work with the side.

Mendy appeared in good spirits as he posed with the orange home strip, which had 'Mendy' and the number '5' on the back.

Lorient offered Mendy an immediate return to top-level football and the chance to relaunch his career back in France after being found not guilty of a string of sex offences.

A Lorient statement read: ‘Benjamin Mendy, world champion 2018, quadruple winner of the Premier League under the colours of Manchester City and French champion of Ligue 1 with Monaco, comes to reinforce the Lorient workforce for this new season. Welcome Benjamin.’

Mendy could return to playing football in England next month after his new club organised a pre-season friendly against Bournemouth.

Mendy's new club will take on the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium on August 5, in Bournemouth's final pre-season match before the Premier League season.

The Brittany club were recently bought out by US businessman Bill Foley, who also owns Premier League team Bournemouth.

The defender's last outing came in August 2021 - but he could feature in new club Lorient's pre-season friendly against Premier League side Bournemouth on August 5.

Last week, jurors returned not guilty verdicts on one count of rape and a count of attempted rape at the end of a retrial at Chester Crown Court.

The 28-year-old had been acquitted of six rapes and one sexual assault rating to four women during a first trial, which lasted four months, but faced a retrial on two separate counts.

Mendy wept in the dock, last week, when he was cleared of all charges. His lawyer, Eleanor Laws KC, had said that the left back’s career in English football was ‘over’ and he has now sealed a move to Lorient, who finished mid-table last season.

Mendy earned in the region of £100,000 a week while employed by the Premier League champions, although they stopped paying his wages in September 2021 after he was remanded in prison.

Two days after being cleared of rape Mendy showed up to a local kick-about in Manchester donning his former team's kit as he shook hands with local lads at the Powerleague venue.

The former Premier League star had turned up unannounced to the sports complex in Ardwick on Sunday, with pictures on Twitter showing him beaming and laughing while interacting with a group of local young fans.

Meanwhile in a series of videos on TikTok, he was seen posing for selfies with a group of amateur players in the locker room of the club, believed to be the Powerleague Manchester Central sports complex.

Mendy made 75 appearances for City from 2017 up until his final appearance in August 2021, winning three Premier League titles and two League Cups.

The player had previously plied his trade in France with Monaco, Marseille and Le Havre.

Now he is set to reignite his football career back in his home country with Lorient, who finished 10th in Ligue 1 last season.