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| PSG Refuses to Pay Mbappe €55m as Bonus Dispute Intensifies** |
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is standing firm in its decision not to pay Kylian Mbappe the €55 million he claims is owed for bonuses he agreed to waive. The disagreement dates back to August 2023, when Mbappe allegedly reached a verbal agreement with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to forgo a €30 million loyalty bonus and a €25 million signing-on fee, as part of an arrangement for his eventual free transfer.
PSG argues that Mbappe acted in "bad faith" by extending his contract in 2022, which included an optional one-year extension that he chose not to exercise. The club accuses him of misleading them about his future intentions, which they believe invalidates his claim to the unpaid bonuses.
When it became clear that Mbappe had no intention of activating the extension, PSG left him out of their 2023 pre-season tour and put him on the transfer market with a price tag of €180 million. Although there were further talks and a gentleman’s agreement, Mbappe demanded the €55 million once he officially departed on June 30, 2024. He took the matter to the Ligue de Football Professionnel’s (LFP) Legal Commission.
The LFP suggested mediation, which Mbappe declined, leading the Commission to instruct PSG to pay within eight days. However, the ruling is non-binding, meaning PSG is not legally required to comply immediately. Mbappe now faces the decision of negotiating directly with PSG or pursuing the case through an Employment Tribunal.
In a statement, PSG emphasized: “Both parties presented their arguments, and the Commission repeatedly recommended mediation, which the player refused. Given the Commission’s limited legal authority, the matter will need to be contested in another forum, where PSG will provide all relevant details. The player’s longstanding commitments and the benefits he has received over his seven years in Paris must be acknowledged, and PSG is confident this will be resolved in the appropriate legal context.”
**Mbappe's Next Move**
Mbappe is expected to argue that PSG subjected him to “moral harassment” and attempted to extort funds, pointing to his exclusion from pre-season as evidence. PSG, however, maintains that their decision was a routine measure to protect a valuable player from injury ahead of a potential transfer.
If the case moves to an Employment Tribunal, it could take years to resolve. Even if a settlement is recommended, the dispute may continue, with the outcome depending on whether the verbal agreement or the original contract takes precedence.
For now, PSG shows no sign of paying the €55 million, signaling a prolonged legal battle ahead.