Manchester City defender, Benjamin Mendy has pleaded not guilty to a new rape case.
Prior to a trial that is scheduled to begin at Chester Crown Court on Monday, the 28-year-old entered the plea.
He currently contests eight counts of rape, one of sexual assault, and one of attempted rape.
Eight men and four women were sworn in as the jury panel for the trial, which is scheduled to last more than three months.
The alleged crimes against seven young ladies are said to have occurred at Mr. Mendy’s house between October 2018 and August 2021.
The French international, of Prestbury, Cheshire, will go on trial alongside co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 40, who has also denied the allegations.
Mr. Matturie, of Eccles, Salford, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault and eight counts of rape involving eight different women that occurred between July 2012 and August 2021.
Potential jurors were required to respond to a series of questions before being chosen by vote to serve on the jury.
The jury members were questioned about their relationships to and personal knowledge of a list of individuals who might testify or be mentioned during the trial.
These featured Manchester City players Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Riyad Mahrez, and Jack Grealish from the Premier League.
Mr Mendy has made 50 Premier League appearances for Manchester City since joining from Monaco in 2017 and has 10 international caps for France.
He was suspended by Manchester City after being charged.
Both men, who remain on bail, were present for the proceedings earlier.
