French League Orders PSG to Pay Mbappé $61 Million in Unpaid Wages

In a significant development for French football, the French league’s legal commission has ruled that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) must pay Kylian Mbappé a sum of 55 million euros (approximately $61 million) in unpaid wages. The league announced this decision on Thursday, confirming that PSG is required to settle the amount Mbappé claims he is owed. This ruling came a day after the French star rejected a mediation offer from the commission concerning his dispute with his former club.

The dispute centers around Mbappé’s claim for unpaid wages related to three months’ salary and a portion of a loyalty bonus. Mbappé’s representatives had requested the commission’s intervention to address the non-payment of these amounts. After his departure from PSG, Mbappé joined Real Madrid on a free transfer earlier this summer.

Following the meeting in Paris between PSG officials and Mbappé’s representatives, the club announced its intention to contest the ruling. PSG stated it plans to pursue further legal action, asserting that the commission’s decision falls short due to the limited scope of its legal authority. The club expressed its readiness to present its case in a different legal forum, where it intends to clarify all the relevant details over the coming months.

PSG’s position is that it does not owe Mbappé the claimed amount. The club argues that the terms of the agreement, which were established when Mbappé was sidelined for the 2023-24 season, did not include payments for bonuses linked to his reintegration into the team. According to PSG, Mbappé had agreed to relinquish such bonuses as part of the understanding when he chose not to extend his contract with the club.

The club’s statement emphasized that Mbappé had previously made clear commitments that PSG believes should be honored. PSG also highlighted the significant benefits Mbappé received during his seven years at the club. In light of the league’s announcement, PSG expressed its desire to resolve the matter in a proper legal setting if Mbappé continues to pursue the claim.

Mbappé’s tenure at PSG concluded amid notable tensions. The relationship between the player and the club soured during his final season. PSG had offered Mbappé the most lucrative contract in the club’s history in 2022, but the star forward was disillusioned when the promised signings did not materialize. His frustration was compounded by the discrepancy between the public display of his new contract, which was announced with a 2025 date, and the actual contract term, which was set to expire in 2024 with an option for an additional year.

In June 2023, Mbappé shocked PSG by opting not to exercise the extra year of his contract, putting the club in a difficult position. With only one year remaining on his contract, PSG faced the prospect of losing him for free unless they could find a buyer. This led to a tense period where PSG sought to transfer Mbappé.

The situation reached a peak during the summer transfer window, with Mbappé initially being left out of the preseason tour to Japan and South Korea and relegated to training with reserve players. PSG preferred to sell Mbappé rather than risk losing him for nothing in the following year. Mbappé rejected a substantial offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal, valued at 300 million euros.

Despite the standoff, PSG eventually allowed Mbappé to return to the team following what they described as “constructive and positive talks” between the two parties. This resolution allowed Mbappé to resume his place in the squad for the new season, but the financial dispute has now reached a new legal chapter.

As this legal battle continues, both PSG and Mbappé prepare for what promises to be a protracted legal process to resolve the outstanding issues.