A labor court in Paris has ruled that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) must pay Kylian Mbappé more than €60 million (approximately $70 million) in a dispute concerning unpaid wages and bonuses related to his contract termination before his anticipated move to Real Madrid in summer 2024. The ruling was made by the Conseil de prud’hommes de Paris on Tuesday, following extensive legal arguments presented last month.
The court’s decision comes amid a backdrop of accusations of betrayal and harassment regarding the relationship breakdown between Mbappé and PSG. His legal team claimed that the club owed him over €260 million (around $305 million), while PSG countered with a demand for €440 million, citing damages and loss of opportunity after Mbappé opted to leave on a free transfer rather than extend his contract.
Mbappé’s representatives emphasized that the ruling reaffirms the necessity of honoring contractual commitments, stating, “It restores a simple truth: Even in the professional football industry, labor law applies to everyone.” As of now, PSG has not publicly responded to the court’s ruling, which can be appealed, suggesting that the dispute may continue.
The tensions between the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner and the reigning European champions escalated when Mbappé chose not to extend his contract, which was set to expire in June 2024. This decision deprived the club of a significant transfer fee despite PSG having offered him the most lucrative contract in its history in 2022. Following his decision, Mbappé was excluded from a preseason tour and required to train separately from the primary squad.
PSG accused the player of reneging on an agreement made in August 2023, which allegedly involved a pay reduction contingent upon his departure as a free agent. The club claimed that Mbappé delayed informing them of his decision for nearly 11 months, which they argue hindered their ability to arrange a transfer and caused substantial financial damage. They accused him of breaching contractual obligations and failing to act in good faith.
In response, Mbappé’s camp asserted that PSG has not provided evidence of any agreement regarding a salary reduction. His lawyers stated that the club failed to pay wages and bonuses for the months of April, May, and June 2024. They highlighted that Mbappé had consistently fulfilled his contractual obligations over the past seven years, declaring, “He did everything possible to avoid litigation, even withdrawing a harassment complaint in a spirit of conciliation.”
PSG has categorically denied the allegations of harassment, pointing out that Mbappé participated in over 94% of matches during the 2023-2024 season and complied with the Professional Football Charter throughout his tenure at the club. The club is pursuing a total of €440 million in damages, which includes €180 million for the lost opportunity to transfer Mbappé after he declined a €300 million offer in July 2023.
After a prolific career at PSG, where he netted a club-record 256 goals in seven seasons, Mbappé is set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer. PSG recently secured a victory in the domestic league, although it was achieved without their star striker. As the legal saga unfolds, both parties remain entrenched in their positions, making a swift resolution appear unlikely.
