Ex-Man City player Mendy given more time to pay tax debt

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, The court heard the footballer “wants to get rid of this debt as quickly as he possibly can”

Former Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy has been given more time to clear a six-figure tax debt as a buyer for his house is in place, a court heard.

The High Court previously heard HM Revenue and Customs is seeking a bankruptcy order against him over a bill said to be about £800,000.

It sought the order again at a hearing before a specialist insolvency judge.

The court heard a sale was expected to complete in about eight weeks on his house in Macclesfield, Cheshire.

The hearing in London was told the property had previously been marketed at £5m but was now being sold for £3.8m

‘Benefit of the doubt’

“He wants to get rid of this debt as quickly as he possibly can,” Louis Doyle KC, for Mr Mendy, said.

He added: “If we get 10 weeks down the line and it is still not sold, I accept I might have a very different fight on my hands.”

The court also heard Mr Mendy is bringing legal action against his former club after Manchester City stopped paying him when he was charged with rape in 2021.

The footballer was subsequently cleared of rape and attempted rape at Chester Crown Court.

Mr Doyle said that Mr Mendy being made bankrupt could have a “potentially catastrophic impact” on his claim which was due to go into mediation later this year.

At the previous hearing in October, Mr Doyle said Mr Mendy was prepared to pay £20,000 a month to the tax body from his salary from his new employer – French club Lorient.

However, the court was told these payments had not been made, in part because the footballer had not received a bonus he was expecting from the new club.

Granting a 12-week adjournment to allow for the sale of Mr Mendy’s house, Judge Joseph Curl KC said: “Although I am troubled by the failure to pay the £20,000 per month and that this is now a fourth adjournment, I am persuaded that I should give what Mr Doyle described as ‘the benefit of the doubt’.”

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