Premier League footballer Benjamin Mendy was today refused bail ahead of his trial for rape and sexual assault due to take place in three months’ time.

The 27-year-old Manchester City defender, who is being held on remand at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool, was denied bail by a judge at Chester Crown Court.

Mendy, of Prestbury, Cheshire, who moved to the reigning champions for £52million in 2017, has been in custody for about seven weeks after being charged in August.

It was the third bail application the French footballer had made. He is yet to enter pleas to the charges of four counts of rape and one of sexual assault.

Mendy was not present in person at Chester Crown Court today. The press were excluded from the 50-minute hearing before Judge Patrick Thompson, but the result of the application was passed on after the hearing by a court official.