Kylian Mbappe set to receive €55 million in unpaid wages from PSG

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe takes legal action against Paris Saint-Germain over withheld salary and bonuses.

Kylian Mbappé, centre-forward for Real Madrid and France, during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 quarter-final first leg match between Arsenal FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Arsenal Stadium on April 8, 2025, in London, England. Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Kylian Mbappe set to receive €55 million in unpaid wages from PSG after a French court authorized the protective seizure of funds from his former club’s accounts. The legal move, announced Thursday, marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the Real Madrid forward and Paris Saint-Germain over unpaid salary and bonuses.

According to Mbappe’s legal team, the Judicial Court of Paris approved the freezing of the disputed amount—55 million euros (approximately $61 million)—pending a formal hearing on May 26. The case has highlighted broader issues within the world of professional football contracts, and Mbappe, now one of the sport’s highest-profile athletes, is taking a stand not just for himself, but for players across the board.

“This is just an employee against a bad payer,” said Delphine Verheyden, one of Mbappe’s lead lawyers, in a public statement. “Kylian Mbappe is determined to enforce his rights, not just for himself but for all the other players who feel they’ve been wronged by their clubs.”

The dispute centers around wage payments and bonus structures that Mbappe argues were agreed upon before his final season at PSG but were never honored. Despite earning millions and having a star-studded reputation, Mbappe insists the matter is one of principle. According to Verheyden, PSG failed to fulfill their contractual obligations during his final year, when tensions between the player and club reached new heights.

The legal clash between superstar and superclub

The court's decision to allow the freezing of PSG’s funds signals that Mbappe’s claims hold weight under French labor law. It also underscores a new phase in the increasingly acrimonious relationship between the player and the club that once centered their entire sporting project around him.

In an added layer of complexity, Mbappe’s case is also being taken to the French labor court, supported by a broader complaint from the French players’ union (UNFP). That complaint alleges a pattern of abusive practices by clubs, particularly the sidelining of players without formal cause. Mbappe was notably excluded from several PSG matchday squads last season following disputes about his contract renewal.

This exclusion, his lawyers argue, constitutes a violation of his employment rights. The UNFP complaint accuses clubs of creating hostile environments to pressure players into contract decisions or departures. For Mbappe, this experience wasn’t theoretical—it was lived.

Although Mbappe ultimately signed a short-term extension in 2022 under heavy political and financial influence, he departed PSG at the end of the 2023–2024 season after refusing further renewals. His long-anticipated move to Real Madrid finally materialized, marking a new chapter in his storied career.

Yet even as he dazzles in Spain, the shadows of his time at PSG continue to follow him—and he seems determined not to let those final chapters go unchallenged.

Paris Saint-Germain, backed by Qatari investors, has so far declined to comment extensively on the court’s latest ruling. A club representative merely confirmed that “legal processes are being followed” and that PSG “reserves the right to respond appropriately in court.”

Privately, however, sources close to the club have described Mbappe’s actions as a “breach of trust,” alleging that the star forward had already benefited from record-breaking earnings during his tenure. The tension between the club’s leadership and their former talisman is palpable—even after his departure.

Yet legal experts say Mbappe’s case has the potential to set a major precedent. “When a player of his stature uses legal channels to claim unpaid wages, it sends a powerful message throughout the industry,” said Antoine Lemoine, a French sports law analyst. “It challenges the notion that star players are immune to mistreatment—or that they must suffer in silence.”

The labor court hearing in May will add further scrutiny to PSG’s employment practices, and the implications could stretch beyond French borders. If Mbappe prevails, it could embolden other footballers—especially those without global name recognition—to speak out against similar treatment.

A case beyond money

Despite the massive sums involved, Mbappe’s legal team insists the case is not just about financial restitution. “This isn’t about the amount,” Verheyden emphasized. “It’s about respect. It’s about sending a message to clubs that no one is above the law, no matter how big the institution may be.”

Mbappe, 25, has largely remained silent in public about the case, choosing instead to focus on his performances at Real Madrid. Since his arrival at the Santiago Bernabéu, he has made an immediate impact, scoring in La Liga and the Champions League and quickly winning over fans and teammates alike.

Still, he hasn’t entirely closed the door on discussing his experiences in Paris. In a recent interview with a Spanish outlet, Mbappe said, “I gave everything to PSG. I don’t regret anything. But when you give everything, you expect to be treated fairly in return.”

His words, though diplomatic, resonate with the frustration that underpins the ongoing legal saga.

The case of Kylian Mbappe set to receive €55 million in unpaid wages from PSG is more than just a headline—it reflects a growing push among elite athletes to demand transparency and accountability from their employers. Whether in football or other sports, players are increasingly willing to confront powerful organizations through legal means.

For PSG, this is another reputational blow during a period of rebuilding and reflection. For Mbappe, it is a bold assertion of professional rights that could shift the balance of power between clubs and players in the modern game.

As the legal proceedings unfold in the coming months, the sports world will be watching closely—not just to see whether Mbappe receives the money he is owed, but to assess the lasting impact this battle might have on football governance itself.