Paris Saint-Germain has been ordered by a Paris labor court to pay Kylian Mbappe over 60 million euros ($96 million Cdn) in a dispute over unpaid wages and bonuses related to the termination of his contract before his move to Real Madrid in 2024.
Last month, legal representatives presented arguments before the Conseil de prud’hommes de Paris in a legal battle involving significant amounts of money. The court ruled in favor of the player on Tuesday amidst claims of betrayal and harassment in connection with the breakdown of his relationship with PSG.
Mbappe’s legal team asserted that PSG owed him more than 260 million euros ($305 million), while PSG sought 440 million euros from Mbappe, citing damages and a “loss of opportunity” following his departure on a free transfer.
The court’s decision is subject to appeal and is unlikely to bring a conclusion to the ongoing dispute.
In response to the ruling, Mbappe’s representatives emphasized the importance of honoring commitments, stating that the decision affirms the applicability of labor laws even within the professional football industry.
PSG has not issued an immediate response to the ruling.
The conflict between the 2018 World Cup champion and the reigning European champions escalated when Mbappe opted not to extend his contract in 2023, which was due to expire in the summer of 2024.
This decision deprived the club of a significant transfer fee despite having offered Mbappe the most lucrative contract in the club’s history when he renewed his deal in 2022. Consequently, he was excluded from a preseason tour, trained with peripheral squad members, and missed the opening league match before rejoining the squad for a final season following discussions with the club.
PSG accused Mbappe of reneging on an agreement from August 2023, which reportedly included a salary reduction if he left on a free transfer—a measure meant to safeguard the club’s financial stability. The club alleged that Mbappe concealed his decision not to extend his contract for nearly 11 months, from July 2022 to June 2023, causing financial harm by preventing a transfer arrangement. PSG claimed breach of contractual obligations and principles of good faith and loyalty.
In contrast, Mbappe’s representatives contended that PSG failed to provide evidence that he agreed to waive any payments and asserted that the club did not fulfill wage and bonus payments for April, May, and June 2024.
According to Mbappe’s advisors, the player fulfilled his sporting and contractual duties diligently throughout his seven-year tenure and made efforts to avoid legal disputes, including withdrawing a harassment complaint in a conciliatory gesture. They stated that he had been pursuing payment for his salaries and bonuses for over 18 months.
PSG refuted allegations of harassment, highlighting Mbappe’s participation in over 94% of matches in the 2023-24 season and his compliance with the Professional Football Charter.
The club sought a total of 440 million euros in damages, including 180 million euros for the missed opportunity to transfer Mbappe due to his departure as a free agent after rejecting a 300 million euros offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal in July 2023.
Mbappe joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 on a free transfer after scoring a record 256 goals during his seven-year spell at PSG, which clinched the Champions League title that year in his absence.
