The legal dispute between Kylian Mbappé and Paris Saint-Germain reached a major turning point on Tuesday, as a labor court in Paris ruled in favor of the player and ordered PSG to pay €60 million in unpaid wages and bonuses.

French international claimed that the club failed to pay his salary and bonuses for April, May, and June 2024, a period during which he was still contractually tied to the Paris-based side, despite having already decided to leave for Spain as a free agent.

The decision represents a significant setback for the French club and a major legal victory for the forward now playing for Real Madrid.

In November, lawyers from both sides appeared before France’s Conseil de prud’hommes, the country’s labor court system. Mbappé initially sought a much larger sum, arguing that the club had exerted undue pressure and caused financial harm.

PSG responded by filing a counterclaim worth €440 million, accusing the player of acting in bad faith and damaging the club financially by leaving without a transfer fee.

After reviewing the case, the court dismissed PSG’s claims and ruled that the club must pay €60 million related strictly to outstanding salaries and bonuses.

The judges found no evidence supporting the club’s assertion that Mbappé had voluntarily waived part of his earnings through an informal agreement with club executives.

The court’s decision

Mbappé’s legal team welcomed the ruling, calling it a clear affirmation of the player’s labor rights. They argued throughout the proceedings that PSG failed to meet its contractual obligations, regardless of the tension surrounding Mbappé’s departure.

PSG, however, strongly disagreed with the decision and announced its intention to appeal.

Club officials insist that Mbappé had agreed to forgo a significant portion of his compensation as part of internal negotiations aimed at easing financial pressure. Court, however, did not validate that claim.

The ruling comes at a difficult time for PSG, which lost its star player without receiving a transfer fee and now faces a substantial financial penalty. 

For Mbappé, the decision represents a partial resolution of a long-running legal battle that severely strained his relationship with the club in France.

Although the appeal process could extend the dispute, the ruling sets an important precedent in European football, where contractual conflicts involving top players are often settled privately. 

In this case, the court made it clear that salary obligations must be honored, regardless of sporting or institutional disputes.