12/16/25 09:33:00
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12/16 09:30 CST Court rules PSG must pay more than $70M to Mbapp in dispute
over unpaid wages
Court rules PSG must pay more than $70M to Mbapp in dispute over unpaid wages
By SAMUEL PETREQUIN
AP Sports Writer
A Paris labor court ruled that Paris Saint-Germain must pay more than 60
million euros ($70 million) to Kylian Mbapp in a dispute over unpaid wages and
bonuses linked to the end of the France superstar's contract in 2024.
Lawyers argued last month before the Conseil de prud'hommes de Paris in a
judicial fight involving colossal sums. On Tuesday, the court sided with Mbapp
amid accusations of betrayal and moral harassment that marked the breakdown of
his relationship with PSG.
The award roughly corresponds to Mbapp's initial claim of 55 million euros.
"It's been 18 months indeed that Kylian Mbapp has been asking for the same
thing --- the payment of his wages, his bonus, for the work he carried out,"
Mbapp's lawyer Delphine Verheyden said. "I'm sure he will be happy to close
this chapter because it was very important for him to be paid for the work he
did while playing for PSG."
In November, his lawyers claimed that PSG owed him more than 260 million euros,
arguing that his fixed-term contract should be reclassified as a permanent one
--- a move rejected by the judges. Such a reclassification could have triggered
compensation for unfair dismissal, unpaid wages, bonuses, and severance.
PSG sought 440 million euros from Mbapp, citing damages and a "loss of
opportunity" after he left on a free transfer. The club said it respects the
ruling and will comply with it, while reserving all rights to appeal.
"Paris Saint-Germain has acted in good faith and honesty throughout, and we
always will," PSG said. "The club looks forward to the future based on
collective unity and success; and we wish the player the best for the future."
Mbapp's representatives said the ruling "confirms that commitments must be
honored. It restores a simple truth: Even in the professional football industry
labor law applies to everyone."
The relationship between the 2018 World Cup winner and the reigning European
champion turned bitter when Mbapp decided in 2023 not to extend his contract,
which was set to expire in summer 2024.
This deprived the club of a juicy transfer fee despite having offered him the
most lucrative contract in club history when he signed a new deal in 2022. He
was sidelined from a preseason tour and forced to train with fringe players.
He missed the opening league game but returned to the lineup for a final season
after discussions with the club --- talks that are central to the dispute.
A lingering feud
The club accused Mbapp of backing out of an August 2023 agreement that
allegedly included a pay reduction should he leave on a free transfer, an
arrangement PSG said was meant to protect its financial stability. PSG claimed
Mbapp hid his decision not to extend his contract for nearly 11 months, from
July 2022 to June 2023, preventing the club from arranging a transfer and
causing major financial harm. It accused him of violating contractual
obligations and the principles of good faith and loyalty.
Mbapp's camp insisted PSG has never produced evidence that the striker agreed
to forego any payment. His lawyers claimed the club failed to pay wages and
bonuses for April, May, and June 2024.
"Mbapp scrupulously fulfilled his sporting and contractual obligations for
seven years and right up to the final day," his advisers said on Tuesday. "He
did everything possible to avoid litigation, even going so far as to withdraw a
harassment complaint in a spirit of conciliation. In total, he had been seeking
payment of his salaries and bonuses for more than 18 months."
PSG rejected all accusations of harassment, highlighting that Mbapp took part
in over 94% of matches in 2023--24 and always worked under conditions compliant
with the Professional Football Charter. The club's claims included 180 million
euros for the lost opportunity to transfer Mbapp, who left as a free agent
after turning down a 300 million euros offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal in July
2023.
Mbapp joined PSG from Monaco for 180 million euros. He signed for Real Madrid
in the summer of 2024 on a free transfer after scoring a club-record 256 goals
in seven years at PSG, which won the Champions League this year without him.
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