Manchester City left-back Benjamin Mendy has been charged with an additional count of rape.
Mendy has been in police custody since August after being charged with six counts of rape and one sexual assault prior to this latest charge.
The former France international was charged with this additional count last week, though this was subject to reporting conditions.
But these restrictions were lifted on Wednesday as Mendy appeared back at Chester Crown Court for a hearing.
This new count of rape - from a new complainant - was alleged to have taken place in July 2021, with the other charges alleged to have happened between October 2020 and August 2021.
The co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie, has been charged with six counts of rape and one sexual assault.
Mendy and Matturie's legal teams have applied to have the charges dismissed, but if this request is denied, are set to enter a plea later on Wednesday.
Mendy was suspended by Man City back in August 'pending an investigation'.
He joined the club for around £50m in 2017 and has won three Premier League titles in Manchester, though injuries have limited him to just 75 appearances for City. Mendy was notably a member of France's World Cup winning squad in 2018.
Source : 90min