Paris, December 16, 2025 – A Paris labour court has ruled in favour of Kylian Mbappé in his high-profile dispute with former club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), ordering the Ligue 1 champions to pay the Real Madrid forward approximately €60-61 million in unpaid salaries and bonuses.
The decision, handed down on Tuesday, partially resolves one of the most bitter legal battles in recent football history. It stems from Mbappé’s claims that PSG withheld payments for the final three months of his contract – April, May, and June 2024 – shortly before his free transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024. The court also upheld Mbappé’s entitlement to an “ethics bonus” and the final instalment of a signing bonus stipulated in his employment agreement.
Judges noted that these sums had already been recognised as owed by the French Professional Football League (LFP) in decisions from September and October 2024. Crucially, PSG failed to provide any written evidence that Mbappé had agreed to waive these payments, despite the club’s arguments that a verbal agreement existed following discussions in August 2023.
Mbappé’s legal team expressed satisfaction with the ruling. “This decision confirms that commitments must be honoured,” they said in a statement. “It restores a simple truth: even in the professional football industry, labour law applies to everyone. Mr. Mbappé scrupulously respected his sporting and contractual obligations for seven years, right up to the final day.”
The 26-year-old France captain, who became PSG’s all-time leading scorer during his seven-year stint, had initially sought over €260 million, including damages for alleged moral harassment, undeclared work, and reclassification of his fixed-term contract as permanent. The court rejected these additional claims.
PSG, in a counter-suit, demanded up to €440 million from Mbappé, accusing him of disloyalty by concealing his intention not to renew his contract for nearly a year – from July 2022 to June 2023 – and causing financial harm by preventing a lucrative transfer. The club highlighted a rejected €300 million offer from Saudi side Al-Hilal in 2023. However, the court dismissed PSG’s demands entirely.
There was no immediate comment from PSG following the verdict. The ruling is provisionally enforceable, meaning the club must pay the sum upon receipt of the judgment, though both sides have the option to appeal, which could prolong the saga.
The acrimonious fallout began when Mbappé opted against extending his contract beyond 2024, leading to tensions that saw him briefly sidelined from first-team activities in 2023. Despite the drama, he returned to the squad and contributed significantly in his final season.
The case underscores broader implications for player contracts and labour rights in French football, reinforcing that even superstar athletes are protected by standard employment laws.