The long-running rift between Kylian Mbappé and his former club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) escalated dramatically on Monday as both sides faced off before the French labour court in what has become one of football’s most high-stakes legal battles.
Mbappé is demanding €263 million, while PSG has countered with an even larger claim of €440 million.
PSG’s Counterclaim: €440m
One of PSG’s lawyers, Renaud Semerdjian, confirmed the club is seeking €440m in damages. Their claim includes:
- Revenue lost from a failed €300 million transfer to Saudi club Al Hilal, which Mbappé rejected in June 2023.
- Damage to the club’s image.
- Compensation for what PSG describes as Mbappé’s breach of an agreement supposedly reached after he refused the Saudi move.
Mbappé’s Complaint: €263m
Mbappé, represented by four lawyers and absent from the hearing, insists no such agreement ever existed.
He claims PSG:
- Sidelined and punished him at the start of the 2023/24 season after he refused to extend his contract.
- Made him train with players the club intended to sell.
- Excluded him from the club’s pre-season tour of Asia and their first league match.
- Misclassified his contract under French labour law.
The players’ union in France had previously condemned the practice of isolating players who refuse contract renewals—a move Mbappé’s case highlights.
Background
Mbappé left PSG on a free transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 after seven years in Paris during which he scored 256 goals in 308 matches.
He now earns an estimated €30 million per year in Spain.
Ironically, PSG won the Champions League for the first time last season—after Mbappé’s departure.
What Happens Next?
The court is expected to deliver its ruling on December 16, following several weeks of deliberation.
