Kylian Mbappe’s Legal Battle with PSG: A Closer Look

The hearing is scheduled for November 17, 2025, as international football star Kylian Mbappe returns to his homeland. The two parties involved in this protracted dispute are set to convene at 1 PM local time.

This case has been escalated to the Parisian labor court, an unusual venue for such high-profile matters. The preliminary conciliation phase has been skipped due to Mbappe’s request to reclassify his fixed-term contract as a permanent one, leading to arguments being heard directly in the judgment chamber.

Elie Dottelonde, a lawyer at the Paris bar, shared insights with RMC Sport about the proceedings: “(Mbappe) is the plaintiff and will present arguments regarding the non-execution of his employment contract, particularly concerning the unpaid salaries and bonuses from the last three months. The defendant, PSG, will need to justify their stance on why these payments have not been made. This case represents a first in the history of the Industrial Tribunal’s case law.”

While Mbappe has secured his opportunity in court, reports indicate that a ruling may take several months. His attorney, Delphine Verheyden, expressed in April 2025 that Mbappe is determined to assert his rights not only for himself but also on behalf of fellow players who may have faced similar grievances with their clubs.

Despite being the all-time leading scorer for PSG with 235 goals, Mbappe’s relationship with the club has become strained, particularly following his decision in the summer of 2023 to decline a contract extension, intending to leave as a free agent when his current deal expires. This decision led to his temporary exclusion from the squad at the start of the 2023-24 season, although he was soon reintegrated after one match.

PSG contends that Mbappe rejoined their plans after agreeing to forgo a portion of his owed payments, a claim his representatives have described as unfounded. They assert that no agreement was reached regarding the waiver of certain payments, a position PSG has dismissed as fantastical, citing meetings that allegedly took place during the summer of 2023. Mbappe continues to pursue the €55 million he believes is rightfully owed to him.

A court order to freeze this amount in PSG’s accounts was overturned on May 26, 2025. Additionally, Mbappe has withdrawn his accusations of psychological harassment, although an investigation was ongoing as of summer 2025. The legal dispute between Mbappe and PSG has also involved the LFP and FFF sporting authorities, which ultimately determined their inability to enforce decisions favoring the player due to an ongoing preliminary hearing requested by PSG before the Paris Judicial Court. This hearing, originally scheduled for last May, has been indefinitely postponed.

On the field, Mbappe continues to excel, having scored 23 goals in 20 appearances for both club and country during the 2025-26 season. After netting two goals for France against Ukraine to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup, he is now just two goals shy of Olivier Giroud, the all-time leading goalscorer for Les Bleus.

Recently, he did not participate in a 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan, having been released from Didier Deschamps’ squad due to ankle inflammation. Reports suggest this was a “diplomatic injury,” allowing the 26-year-old to return to Spain without risking a more severe fitness issue in a match of little consequence.