Manchester City footballer, Benjamin Mendy, has been remanded in custody for two weeks after appearing at Chester Magistrates' Court charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

       The 27-year-old was charged with the offences on Thursday and held in custody ahead of Friday's appearance in court.

       Lawyers for the player applied for him to be released on bail, but magistrates remanded him in custody, ahead of a Crown Court appearance on September 10.

       The French born player appeared in the dock dressed in black jogging bottoms and a red hoodie.

       He stood as the charges were read out and relayed to him by an interpreter who was in court.

       Details of the charges he faces were also set out to the court.

       Mendy is charged with three counts of rape in October 2020 at his home address in Prestbury, Cheshire.

       He is also charged with the sexual assault of a woman, also at his home address in early January this year.

       He is further charged with the rape of a woman in August this year, also at his home address.

       Mendy was also charged with breaking his bail conditions in August, according to the court listing, but that charge was withdrawn in court.

       The whole hearing lasted less than an hour and no pleas were entered.

       Prosecutor Debbie Byrne said: "There are three female victims who allege serious sexual offences."

       The court heard the alleged attacks happened during parties held at the player's Cheshire home.

       The first complainant was allegedly raped three times in October when she was invited to a party at the house.

       Mr Mendy is accused of sexually assaulting a second woman in January during another party and the fourth rape charge relates to alleged attack on a 17-year-old earlier this month.

       Mendy, who plays as a left back, was born in a suburb of Paris and began his career in France with Le Havre before moving to Marseille and then Monaco.

       He joined Manchester City in July 2017 on a five-year contract for a reported ￡52m fee - a world record for a defender.

       He was also a member of France’s 2018 World Cup winning squad but only played for 40 minutes during the tournament.

       Announcing his suspension from Manchester City a spokesman said: "Manchester City can confirm that following his being charged by police today, Benjamin Mendy has been suspended pending an investigation.

       "The matter is subject to a legal process and the Club is therefore unable to make further comment until that process is complete."

       Mr Mendy was at the centre of one the first coronavirus scares to hit football, when in March 2020, a member of his family took ill at his home.

       In 2019 he was reprimanded by his manager, Pep Guardiola, after he was spotted in a nightclub just hours before he was due to attend a training session.

       He was also fined last year for breaching lockdown rules by hosting a gathering at his home.

       The player has also suffered a number of injuries which have kept him out of the game for long periods.

       In 2018 he was banned from driving for a year after racking up 24 points on his licence.