A French court sided with Kylian Mbappé on Tuesday in his fight to claw back money from Paris Saint-Germain, his old club that he left on a free transfer in 2024.
The 26-year-old superstar has been in a contentious battle with the reigning Champions League winners, claiming they still owe him millions in unpaid wages. Mbappé sought about $305 million, while PSG sought about $518 million in its counterclaim.
PSG is owned by Qatar Sports Investments, which is backed by the Qatari government.
The Paris labor court ruled that PSG failed to pay Mbappé his wages and bonuses for April, May, and June 2024 before his Real Madrid transfer, coming out to more than $70 million.
“We are satisfied with the ruling. This is what you could expect when salaries went unpaid,” Mbappe’s lawyer told reporters Tuesday.
Mbappé agreed to a two-year contract with PSG in 2022 that included an option to extend another year. In June 2023, Mbappé told the club he wasn’t going to exercise that option.
The dispute began, PSG argued, when Mbappé reneged on an August 2023 “gentlemen’s agreement” that would’ve protected the club from financial losses. The supposed agreement dictated that Mbappé could extend his deal so that PSG could get a transfer fee for him, or Mbappé would have to give up some of his money if he left on a free transfer, PSG claimed. Mbappé’s side argued that PSG could not prove that the agreement actually took place.
The court only accepted Mbappé’s arguments for his April, May, and June wages and bonuses, and dismissed his other claims and those of PSG.
PSG will have the opportunity to appeal the ruling.
“Paris Saint-Germain takes note of the ruling handed down by the Paris labor court, which it will comply with, while reserving the right to appeal,” the club said in a statement Tuesday. “Paris Saint-Germain has always acted in good faith and with integrity, and will continue to do so. The club is now looking to the future, built on unity and collective success, and wishes the player all the best for the remainder of his career.”
Last year, the French soccer league’s legal commission recommended mediation, which Mbappé refused, then ordered PSG to pay him in the next eight days. But because that order didn’t have teeth, Mbappé still had to take his claims to court.
Mbappé spent seven years with the club and is its all-time goals leader.
