Financial Dispute Escalates Between PSG and Kylian Mbappé

The legal dispute between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Kylian Mbappé escalated on Monday, as both parties presented significant financial demands.

The French star forward and his former club are in disagreement over purported unpaid wages, a matter currently under review by an industrial court.

Mbappé, who was absent from the hearing, previously asserted that he is owed €55 million ($63 million) by the reigning European champions. He now seeks over €260 million ($301 million) from PSG, contending that his fixed-term contract should be reclassified as a permanent one. Such a reclassification would entitle him to compensation for unfair dismissal, unpaid wages, bonuses, and severance.

Additionally, he claims damages for moral harassment, undeclared work, and violations of PSG’s obligations of good faith and safety towards him.

“Kylian Mbappé is not requesting anything beyond what the law stipulates; he is merely seeking the enforcement of his legal rights, as any employee would,” stated the player’s advisers in a press release.

On the other hand, PSG is demanding a total of €440 million ($510 million) from the striker, which includes €180 million ($208 million) for a “loss of opportunity” related to his transfer after he chose to leave as a free agent, declining a €300 million ($348 million) offer from Saudi club Al Hilal in July 2023.

In its statement, PSG expressed that it is also seeking compensation for breaches of good faith during negotiations and contract performance, along with damages to its reputation and image.

A ruling from the court is anticipated next month.

PSG argued that when Mbappé was sidelined prior to the 2023-24 season—following his decision not to extend his contract—there existed a verbal agreement allowing him to forgo bonuses in order to return to the lineup.

“Before the court, the club presented evidence indicating that the player acted disloyally by concealing his decision not to extend his contract for nearly 11 months, from July 2022 to June 2023, thus depriving the club of any opportunity to arrange a transfer,” PSG stated.

Furthermore, the club noted that Mbappé contested an agreement reached in August 2023, which stipulated a salary reduction should he opt to leave on a free transfer, aimed at maintaining the club’s financial stability following significant investments.

In response, Mbappé’s camp asserted that PSG failed to produce any evidence of an agreement regarding the waiver of these payments.

When accusing PSG of moral harassment, Mbappé described the “lofting” he allegedly endured at the club—a term used in France to denote the practice of isolating a player from the main squad for various reasons.

Mbappé expressed dissatisfaction with his treatment by the Ligue 1 club when he was sidelined prior to the 2023-24 season, following his refusal to extend his contract.

He ultimately joined Real Madrid during the summer of 2024 on a free transfer after scoring a club-record 256 goals in seven years at PSG, who went on to win the Champions League without him that year.

His relationship with PSG concluded amid considerable tension, as the club felt betrayed after offering him the most lucrative contract in its history when he signed a new deal in 2022.

Mbappé shocked the club a year later by informing them he would not be exercising the option for an additional year. With his contract entering its final year, PSG found themselves in a position where they needed to transfer Mbappé to avoid losing him without compensation.

He had initially joined PSG from Monaco for €180 million ($209 million) in 2017. Following his announcement of not extending his contract, Mbappé was omitted from a pre-season tour to Japan and South Korea, and was compelled to train with less favored players. PSG initially excluded him from the opening league match of the season, although he soon returned to the lineup after discussions.

PSG has denied any claims of harassment or undue pressure, asserting that Mbappé participated in over 94% of the official matches for the 2023-24 season, with all sporting decisions being made by a coach who is now a Champions League winner, and that he always operated under conditions compliant with the Professional Football Charter.

Information from The Associated Press was utilized in this report.