The French football league’s appeals commission has upheld the decision ordering Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to pay Kylian Mbappé 55 million euros ($60 million) in unpaid wages. The LFP’s legal commission had ruled in favor of Mbappé last month, but PSG appealed, claiming they did not owe him any money. However, after a second hearing on October 15, the verdict remained unchanged.
Mbappé had previously rejected a mediation offer by the commission, stating that PSG owed him three months’ salary and the last third of a loyalty bonus. He joined Real Madrid this summer on a free transfer after scoring a club-record 256 goals in seven years for PSG.
PSG argued that there was a verbal agreement when Mbappé was sidelined ahead of the 2023-24 season, following his decision not to extend his contract. The club claimed that Mbappé agreed to relinquish bonuses in order to return to the team.
However, Mbappé’s relationship with PSG ended amid deep tensions, with some fans booing him in his last home game at Parc des Princes. The France superstar has since scored eight goals in 13 matches for Real Madrid.
PSG felt let down by Mbappé after offering him the most lucrative contract in club history when he signed a new deal in 2022. However, Mbappé was frustrated because he felt promises to sign key players were not kept. He was reportedly annoyed that the contract was until 2024, with a player’s option for an extra season, rather than the 2025 date that was initially presented to him.
Mbappé stunned PSG in June last year by informing the club he would not take the option for an extra year. With his contract effectively into its final year, it put PSG in the position of needing to sell Mbappé to avoid losing him for nothing when the contract expired.
His PSG career could have ended in the summer of 2023 amid a tense transfer standoff. After telling the club he would not extend, Mbappé was left off a preseason tour to Japan and South Korea and forced to train with fringe players. PSG said it would rather sell him than let the player leave for free in 2024, but he rejected a 300 million euro move to Saudi team Al-Hilal.
PSG left Mbappé out of the opening league game of that season but he soon returned to the lineup following talks.
