Paris Saint-Germain has been ordered by a Paris labor court to pay Kylian Mbappe over 60 million euros ($96 million Cdn) in a legal dispute concerning unpaid wages and bonuses related to his contract termination before his move to Real Madrid in 2024.
During a legal battle last month at the Conseil de prud’hommes de Paris, lawyers argued over significant amounts of money. The court’s decision on Tuesday favored Mbappe in the midst of allegations of betrayal and harassment surrounding his fallout with PSG.
Mbappe’s legal team claimed that PSG owed him more than 260 million euros ($305 million), while PSG was seeking 440 million euros from Mbappe, citing damages and a loss of opportunity following his departure on a free transfer.
The court’s verdict is subject to appeal and is expected to prolong the ongoing dispute. Mbappe’s representatives emphasized that the ruling reinforces the importance of honoring commitments and upholding labor laws in the football industry.
The rift between Mbappe, a 2018 World Cup champion, and his former club escalated in 2023 when he opted not to extend his contract, which was due to expire in the summer of 2024. This decision deprived PSG of a transfer fee despite offering Mbappe the most lucrative contract in the club’s history in 2022.
Allegations from PSG include accusing Mbappe of reneging on an agreement that reportedly included a salary reduction if he departed on a free transfer, a move PSG claimed was essential for its financial stability. Mbappe’s camp refuted these claims, asserting that PSG failed to pay wages and bonuses for certain months in 2024.
PSG alleged that Mbappe concealed his decision not to extend his contract for almost 11 months, causing financial harm to the club. Mbappe’s advisers maintained that he fulfilled his contractual obligations diligently and sought payment for outstanding salaries and bonuses for over 18 months.
PSG countered accusations of harassment by highlighting Mbappe’s high match participation rate and adherence to professional standards. The club sought damages totaling 440 million euros, including a significant sum for the missed opportunity to transfer Mbappe after he turned down a lucrative offer from Al-Hilal in 2023.
Following a record-breaking seven-year stint at PSG, where he scored 256 goals, Mbappe joined Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer of 2024. PSG, despite winning the Champions League that year, did so without Mbappe’s contributions.