Kylian Mbappe’s Legal Battle with PSG: A Claim for Damages

Kylian Mbappe, the captain of the French national team, has initiated legal proceedings against Paris St-Germain (PSG), seeking a sum of €263 million (£231.5 million). This includes €55 million (£46.3 million) in unpaid wages, stemming from a protracted contractual dispute and alleged mistreatment by the club. Meanwhile, PSG is demanding €240 million (£211 million) from Mbappe, related to his unsuccessful €300 million transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in 2023.

The 26-year-old forward, who previously joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 and became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, subsequently transferred to Real Madrid on a free transfer the following summer. The Paris labour court is expected to take several weeks to reach a verdict on this matter.

The conflict between Mbappe and PSG began in July 2023, when the player declined a move to the Saudi Pro League. He contends that his decision to reject a contract extension led to him being sidelined by the club, as he was excluded from PSG’s pre-season tour in Asia and missed the initial match of the season before being reinstated.

PSG asserts that this treatment followed Mbappe’s agreement to waive certain end-of-contract payments to maintain the club’s financial stability. However, representatives for Mbappe have labeled this claim as “fantasy,” emphasizing that the player is still awaiting salary and bonus payments.

Following the hearing on Monday, PSG stated their intention to seek recognition of the significant damages incurred due to what they describe as Mbappe’s serious breaches of his contractual obligations. The club alleges that he acted disloyally by not disclosing his decision not to extend his contract for nearly eleven months, from July 2022 to June 2023.

Furthermore, PSG has firmly denied any assertions of harassment or pressure, noting that Mbappe enjoyed exceptional conditions during his seven-year tenure with the club. Over this period, he scored 256 goals in 308 appearances and secured 15 trophies.