Manchester City and France international footballer Benjamin Mendy will face trial in July for the alleged rape and assault of six women, a court heard on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old, who has been suspended by his club, appeared in the dock at Chester Crown Court where he faced a new count of attempted rape.
Mendy now faces nine charges in all, including seven counts of rape, involving six alleged victims.
Judge Patrick Thompson set 25 July as the trial date for Mendy and his co-defendant, Louis Saha Matturie. A French interpreter sat between the two men, and Mendy spoke only to confirm his identity.
The trial is expected to last up to six weeks. Thompson scheduled another pre-trial hearing for 11 March.
Both men were given bail last month, after they had been held in custody since their arrests in August.
Mendy joined Manchester City from French club Monaco in 2017. He has played 75 times for City, but his playing time has been limited by injuries and a loss of form.
The last of his 10 caps for France came in November 2019, after the defender won the World Cup in 2018.