Kylian Mbappe‘s departure from Paris Saint-Germain has taken a contentious legal turn, as the football superstar accuses his former club of withholding £47 million in unpaid wages and bonuses. The 26-year-old forward, now a Real Madrid player, claims the sum includes three months of unpaid salary and the final third of a loyalty bonus due before he left the club.
Mbappe’s lawyers have formally reported PSG to UEFA, citing the club’s alleged failure to comply with employment and financial obligations. “This case is simple; it involves an employee who has completed his employment contract to its end and whose employer refuses to pay him,” said Delphine Verheyden, Mbappe’s lead counsel, during a televised interview. She revealed that two French courts had already ruled in Mbappe’s favor, affirming PSG’s legal responsibility to settle the outstanding payments.
Despite these rulings, PSG has reportedly refused to comply, prompting Mbappe’s team to escalate the matter to UEFA. The legal complaint seeks potential sanctions that could see the French giants banned from participating in the Champions League—a dramatic consequence if UEFA determines the club is in breach of financial fair play regulations related to player payments.
PSG Risks Champions League Exclusion Amid UEFA Review
UEFA has confirmed that it has received notification regarding the ongoing dispute between Mbappe and PSG, though it has not taken any immediate disciplinary action. According to the governing body, financial fair play (FFP) rules require clubs to be up-to-date with employee payments to obtain licenses to participate in European competitions.
A UEFA spokesperson stated, “The case is only indirectly linked with us in terms of possible arrears of payment. If a final decision is taken by the French authorities and confirms that there are indeed arrears … the club would then have to pay the arrears on time or risk noncompliance with financial fair play.”
With UEFA currently reviewing club license applications for next season’s Champions League, Mbappe’s legal team is banking on the potential threat of exclusion to pressure PSG into settling the debt. “We had no other choice,” Verheyden said, emphasizing that notifying UEFA was a necessary step given PSG’s defiance of binding legal decisions in France.
PSG Denies Allegations, Points to Verbal Agreement with Mbappe
Paris Saint-Germain has pushed back against the allegations, claiming that Mbappe verbally agreed to forego certain bonuses in exchange for reinstatement into the squad during a tense standoff before the 2023/2024 season. The club maintains that this agreement justifies their refusal to pay the loyalty bonus now under dispute.
“After hearing yet another fantastic story from a parallel universe today, PSG continues to fail to understand why Kylian Mbappe is not taking his case to the labour chamber,” read a strongly worded club statement. The club argues that the labor chamber is the only competent legal authority to adjudicate this employment-related case, not UEFA or public media platforms.
PSG’s frustration also appears rooted in what it views as a public relations offensive by Mbappe and his legal team. Club executives believe the Real Madrid forward is weaponizing his celebrity status to pressure the club through media and regulatory channels rather than following standard employment dispute procedures.
Mbappe’s Lawyers Accuse PSG of Harassment
In addition to seeking payment, Mbappe’s legal team has revealed intentions to sue PSG for alleged harassment. The France captain’s representatives claim the club subjected him to “inhumane” treatment during his final months in Paris, including isolation from team activities and a campaign to pressure him into extending his contract or waiving financial entitlements.
Verheyden accused the club of acting with “deliberate malice,” saying, “Over the past year, we haven’t just been waiting for payment to arrive. We have been fighting against psychological tactics and disrespectful treatment that no professional should endure.”
The claim of harassment adds another layer of legal jeopardy for PSG, whose leadership has been criticized in the past for its handling of star players. The club now faces multiple legal challenges from its former marquee player, potentially damaging its public image and jeopardizing its financial stability if UEFA imposes sanctions.
A Sour End to a Glittering PSG Legacy
Mbappe’s feud with PSG stands in stark contrast to the legacy he leaves behind at the club. The French forward became the club’s all-time top scorer, won six Ligue 1 titles, and helped elevate PSG’s global stature during his seven-year spell. However, his exit—announced publicly last May—soured an already strained relationship between player and club management.
Despite his legendary status on the pitch, Mbappe’s departure on a free transfer to Real Madrid left PSG’s leadership fuming. The club’s refusal to honor financial obligations appears rooted in a broader breakdown of trust and communication, with both sides now entrenched in a bitter legal and personal battle.
As UEFA evaluates whether PSG meets the conditions for European competition, this high-profile feud could become one of the defining off-pitch football stories of the year—setting a precedent on player rights, club responsibilities, and the limits of verbal agreements in elite football contracts.
