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After a high-stakes legal battle, a French court has ordered Paris St-Germain to pay former star Kylian Mbappe 60 million euros in outstanding salary and bonuses. The award is significantly less than the 263 million euros Mbappe had pursued, and it comes after PSG had filed a counter-suit for 240 million euros in the dispute heard by a Paris labour court in November.
The 26-year-old Real Madrid forward claimed the nine-figure sum, which included 55m euros in unpaid wages, as damages in response to a contract dispute and ill-treatment by the club. However, he has only been awarded a fraction of that amount, with the court recognising that PSG had failed to pay three months of his salary between April and June 2024 as well as an ethics bonus and a signing bonus under his contract.
"We are satisfied with this ruling. This is what you could expect when salaries went unpaid," Mbappe's lawyer Frederique Cassereau said.
In a statement, Mbappe's legal team added: "This judgement confirms that commitments entered into must be honoured. It restores a simple truth: even in the professional football industry, labour law applies to everyone.
"Mr Mbappe, for his part, scrupulously respected his sporting and contractual obligations for seven years, right up to the final day."
While accepting the court's ruling, PSG haven't ruled out appealing the decision. The club had been seeking compensation for Mbappe's failed 300m euros transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in 2023. He joined Spanish giants Real Madrid on a free transfer the following summer.
The club's statement read: "Paris St-Germain takes note of the judgement pronounced by the Paris Labour Court, which it will execute, while reserving the right to appeal.
"Paris St-Germain has always acted in good faith and with integrity, and will continue to do so. The club is now looking to the future, based on unity and collective success, and wishes the player the best for the rest of his career.”
Mbappe was at PSG from 2017 to 2024, initially on loan from Monaco and later on a permanent transfer, and won 15 trophies in the French capital.
He is PSG's all-time leading goal-scorer, with 256 goals in 308 games, including 44 goals in 48 matches in his final season.
