Benjamin Mendy of Manchester City has been transferred to the infamous Strangeways with maximum security

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy was transferred to a high-security prison a few days earlier. Christmas among fears of his safety.

The 27-year-old, who is now charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, was transferred to the infamous HMP Manchester prison on December 23, commonly called Strangeways.

The footballer was transferred from HMP Altcourse in Liverpool to a heavily guarded men’s prison in Manchester the day after the seventh rape charge was filed against him.

Mendy’s co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 40, is said to have been transferred to a category A prison at the same time. The sun reports.

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy, who is now charged with a total of seven rapes and one sexual assault, was transferred to the infamous HMP Manchester prison last month.

A source told The Sun: “Both Mendy and Matturie were moved because their case is so high-profile.

“This could lead to problems with the security and management of prisoners, and it was thought that category A conditions might be better equipped to deal with potential problems.

“The prison service is responsible for managing prisoners in the safest way possible.”

Last month, the footballer was charged with the seventh count of rape of the new appellant.

The charges now concern five complainants over the age of 16 and are expected to occur between October 2020 and August 2021.

Co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 40, is charged with six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

The charges against him concern four complainants over the age of 16 and are expected to occur between March 2021 and August 2021.

Mendy and Matturie are due to begin trial on Jan. 24, but last month, Judge Patrick Thompson said the date seemed “unrealistic.”

The French international had previously been in custody at the HMP Altcourse in Liverpool after being charged on August 26 with four counts of rape and one sexual assault.

The footballer was transferred to the infamous HMP Manchester prison, commonly known as Strangeways, on December 23.

At a previous hearing, his attorney, Christopher Stables, said he vehemently denied the allegations.

The 2017 Premier League champions spent £ 49.2 million to sign Mendy from Monaco, France.

In September last year, City boss Pep Guardiola revealed that Mendy will be excluded from the game for at least a month due to injury.

City later suspended the left-back after he was charged.

In a statement, the club said: “Manchester City can confirm that Benjamin Mendy was suspended pending an investigation after police charged him today.

“The matter is the subject of legal proceedings, so the club cannot comment further until this case is completed.”