The French league’s legal commission has ruled that Paris Saint-Germain must pay Kylian Mbappé €55 million ($61 million) in unpaid wages, the league announced Thursday.
The decision comes a day after Mbappé rejected a mediation offer from the commission regarding his dispute with PSG. The France international, who transferred to Real Madrid this summer on a free transfer, had sought the commission’s intervention in the matter.
PSG officials and Mbappé’s representatives met in Paris on Wednesday after Mbappé requested the commission’s involvement. Following the meeting, Mbappé’s representatives stated that the dispute involves non-payment of three months’ salary and a portion of a loyalty bonus.
PSG has announced its intention to challenge the ruling, citing dissatisfaction with the commission’s decision. “Given the limitations of the commission’s legal scope, the matter must now be contested in another legal forum, where Paris Saint-Germain is prepared to present all relevant facts over the coming months and year,” the club said.
PSG contends that it does not owe Mbappé under an agreement made when he was sidelined ahead of the 2023-24 season. The club argues that Mbappé had agreed to forgo certain bonuses related to his reintegration into the team.
“As a matter of law and fact, the player has made clear, repeated public and private commitments that must be honored, having received unprecedented benefits from the club over seven years,” PSG said following the league’s decision. “The club looks forward to these commitments being upheld in the proper forum if the player chooses to pursue this matter further.”
Mbappé’s tenure with PSG ended amid significant tension. The club was disappointed after Mbappé opted not to extend his contract beyond 2024, despite signing the most lucrative deal in the club’s history in 2022. Mbappé was reportedly displeased with unmet promises regarding new signings and was frustrated by the public display of his contract, which had an option for an additional year.
Mbappé’s contract situation led to a dramatic transfer standoff in the summer of 2023. After indicating he would not exercise the extra year option, PSG excluded him from a preseason tour and forced him to train separately. The club faced the dilemma of selling him or risking losing him for free at the end of his contract. Mbappé declined a €300 million move to Saudi team Al-Hilal.
Although PSG initially left Mbappé out of the opening league game of the 2023-24 season, the club eventually reinstated him following what they described as “constructive and positive talks.”
