Mbappé’s Courtroom Clash: PSG’s Old Wounds Meet a New Legal Tango
16 November 2025
Background of the Dispute
Kylian Mbappé, captain of France and Real Madrid’s standout, is gearing up for a fresh legal clash with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain.
A lengthy report by Le Parisien this Sunday reveals that Mbappé and PSG will appear before the Paris Labour Court tomorrow to review a dispute that has simmered since his move to Madrid in the summer of 2024.
The publication says Mbappé is seeking about 55 million euros in unpaid wages and bonuses, and he also wants to reclassify his fixed-term contract as a permanent deal.
The hearing is set to begin at 1 p.m. and is described as an unusual move for Paris’s labour court, with both parties expected in the courtroom.
A source told AFP that the session would start without a preliminary mediation, because Mbappé requests the contract status change.
Le Parisien notes that PSG and close associates of the Madrid-based striker chose to defer public comments until the hearing, which is unlikely to produce a decision for months—a routine in Parisian labour proceedings.
Mbappé’s lawyer, Delfine Verhaïden, said at a press conference in April that the forward is acting to defend his rights, as well as those of other players who felt wronged by their clubs.
Background: Mbappé was frozen out at PSG at the start of the 2023-24 season after refusing to extend his contract ending in 2024, before returning to the squad later.
PSG argues that Mbappé’s return was the result of an agreement in which the player waived a portion of sums due at the end of his deal to preserve financial stability, while his representatives deny these claims.
Le Parisien adds that the captain who joined Real Madrid in 2024 is seeking 55 million euros and has not agreed to any financial concessions since his departure.
The hearing comes four months after Mbappé dropped a criminal complaint against the club for alleged psychological harassment; the investigation remains open.
The two sides have clashed before, with French football authorities, but neither has been able to enforce rulings amid a preliminary hearing PSG had requested from a Paris court.
But the scheduled session, initially set for May, was postponed indefinitely, underscoring the slow pace of such proceedings.
What to Expect Next
Away from the litigation, Mbappé has been in excellent form, recently scoring a brace as France beat Ukraine 4-0 to seal World Cup 2026 qualification for the Blues, a historic eight consecutive and 17th overall appearance.
The 2026 World Cup will be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Mbappé aiming to add to his World Cup tally under Didier Deschamps’ guidance.
Back at Real Madrid, he remains a central figure as the club navigates a period of renewal under coach Xabi Alonso, amid a season of ups and downs that has included notable wins and surprising defeats.
Madrid’s campaign has featured a classic roller-coaster narrative: a league-leading run in parts, followed by heavy defeats and European hurdles, all while the 2024-25 season’s memories linger and the squad looks to reset under a new rhythm.
As Mbappé anchors Madrid’s hopes, the PSG relationship—now in a legal limelight—continues to color the narrative around one of football’s most scrutinized careers.
Punchline 1: If contracts aged as well as wine, this case would come with a corkscrew and a standing ovation. Punchline 2: In football, the only thing more volatile than the pitch is the fine print that follows every transfer—brace yourselves for a plot twist better than any transfer saga.
