A French court has ordered Paris St-Germain (PSG) to compensate former striker Kylian Mbappe with 60 million euros (£52.5 million) in outstanding wages and bonuses.
Mbappe was pursuing 263 million euros (£231.5 million) from his previous club after the prolonged conflict arrived at a Paris labor court in November.
The European titleholders were counter-suing the captain of France for 240 million euros (£211 million).
The 26-year-old forward for Real Madrid sought the nine-figure amount in damages due to a contract conflict and mistreatment by the club.
Nonetheless, he received slightly more than one-fifth of that sum in court on Tuesday.
The court acknowledged that PSG did not pay three months’ worth of his salary from April to June 2024, along with an ethics bonus and a signing bonus, according to his contract.
It is thought that most of the funds given to Mbappe were bonuses instead of his wage.
In May, a 55 million euro amount in the club’s accounts was blocked after a request from Mbappe’s legal team.
“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 honored. It restores a simple truth: even in the professional football industry, labor 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 PSG accepts the court’s judgment, they have not ruled out appealing it.
The club has sought compensation for Mbappe’s failed 300 million euro sale to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in 2023.
The next summer, he signed on a free transfer with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
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’s choice to remain in France instead of joining the Saudi Pro League, along with his unwillingness to agree to a contract extension, led to a conflict spanning over two years, as the striker felt overlooked by the French champions.
He did not receive an invitation to join the club’s pre-season tour in Asia and was absent for their opening game of the 2023-24 season.
He was subsequently restored to the team—a choice PSG claimed came after Mbappé’s consent to waive part of his end-of-contract payments to safeguard the club’s financial stability.
Nonetheless, Mbappe’s agents rejected the assertion as “fantasy” during the hearing in November.
PSG likewise claimed the player was “disloyal by hiding for almost 11 months, from July 2022 to June 2023, his choice not to renew his contract” and stated the club experienced “considerable harm” due to his conduct.
Mbappe played for PSG between 2017 and 2024, starting with a loan from Monaco and subsequently a permanent move, securing 15 trophies in the French city.
He is PSG’s top scorer of all time, having netted 256 goals in 308 appearances, which includes 44 goals in 48 games during his last season.
