By Martin Graham
When Kylian Mbappe finally departed Paris St-Germain in the summer of 2024, many anticipated a smooth separation after years of speculation. Instead, the fallout between the French striker and his former club has dragged on, shaped by a high-stakes legal battle involving tens of millions of euros.
The Real Madrid forward is currently seeking €55m (£46.3m) in what he claims are unpaid financial entitlements. Last month, his legal representatives successfully petitioned a Paris court to freeze these funds in PSG’s accounts. The dispute stems from the terms of Mbappe’s 2022 contract renewal, which initially appeared to bind him until 2025. However, it later became evident that the deal was structured as a two-year agreement with an optional additional year.
Mbappe’s decision not to activate the final year was communicated in a letter that surfaced in June 2023, though it had been written shortly after the original contract was signed. Faced with the risk of losing their record signing without compensation, PSG offered two alternatives: an early exit or a compromise to mitigate financial losses.
The striker was subsequently made available for transfer and turned down a significant offer from Saudi Arabia. In July, president Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated publicly that Mbappe was free to depart. As pre-season began, Mbappe was relegated to training with a separate group of players – a common but controversial practice in French football, authorised under national regulations but often criticised by unions.
At the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, PSG claims that Mbappe consented to forgo €55m in owed bonuses and wages, allowing him to rejoin the first team. According to the club, this understanding was made during discussions involving several senior figures and was based on verbal assurances, forming what they describe as a “gentlemen’s agreement.”
Mbappe referred to this arrangement in January 2024 following a domestic cup match, suggesting that the deal reached with club leadership safeguarded the interests of all parties regardless of his eventual decision. He would later confirm his intention to leave before the season concluded, receiving a modest farewell during the league title celebrations.
However, his legal team now argues that the verbal pact carries no legal weight, as no formal modification was signed or filed with France’s football authorities. They claim the €55m includes the final portion of his signing bonus and unpaid salary for three months.
The case was first addressed by the French league’s disciplinary body, which issued a non-binding recommendation in Mbappe’s favor. That same body later ruled it lacked the authority to resolve the matter due to an ongoing civil court procedure. An appeal to the French Football Federation was also dismissed on similar grounds.
Last month, Mbappe’s lawyers held a media briefing announcing that they had escalated the situation. In addition to securing the seizure of the disputed funds, they alleged that PSG pressured the forward into extending his contract under inappropriate conditions – an accusation the club denies.
In response, PSG declared its intention to countersue for €98m (£82.6m), citing what it calls Mbappe’s misleading conduct during negotiations. A club lawyer stated that the purpose of the counterclaim is not necessarily financial recovery but to challenge the validity of the striker’s demand.
Mbappe’s team contends that there is no legitimate reason to delay the payout and insists that the verbal understanding should not override contractual obligations. They also joined the players’ union in ongoing legal action against the practice of isolating players during transfer periods.
A ruling on the seizure of PSG’s funds is expected on 26 May, the same day a separate court hearing will address the broader legal conflict. While Mbappe’s first season in Spain will have concluded, PSG faces a crucial week, with both the Coupe de France and Champions League finals on the calendar – a stretch that could define the club’s future both on and off the field.
