€55M Verdict: LFP Rules PSG Must Pay Kylian Mbappé – Club Vows Appeal in Bitter Exit Saga
Published Date: 16th Dec, 2025
Paris Saint-Germain's protracted feud with former star Kylian Mbappé reached a dramatic crescendo on December 18, 2025, as the French Professional Football League's (LFP) legal committee upheld a €55 million award to the player for unpaid wages, bonuses, and loyalty payments from his final season. The binding decision—confirming a September labor commission ruling—forces the Qatari-owned club to cough up the sum immediately, intensifying the acrimony surrounding Mbappé's free transfer to Real Madrid last summer. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi blasted the verdict as "outrageous" and pledged an appeal to civil courts, while Mbappé's camp hailed it as "justice served" in a saga that has gripped French football and exposed the high-stakes fallout of superstar departures.
The €55M Breakdown: What PSG Owes the Madrid Maestro
The LFP's order stems from Mbappé's August 2024 complaint alleging deliberate withholding to coerce a transfer fee. The tally: three months' gross salary (€18 million), a €30 million installment from his 2022 contract renewal's signing bonus, and a €7 million loyalty premium. Mbappé waived a separate €80 million bonus to enable his free exit in June 2025, but insisted the club reneged on verbal agreements post his February 2024 departure announcement.
PSG's defense—that Mbappé orally waived bonuses in August 2023 if leaving gratis—crumbled without written proof. The September commission sided with the player; the LFP appeal upheld it Wednesday, mandating payment plus interest within 10 days or face sanctions like points deductions. "The committee affirms contractual obligations—full stop," the terse LFP statement read.
Mbappé's lawyer, in a victory lap to L'Équipe: "Kylian fulfilled every duty; PSG tried to punish his choice. This restores fairness." The 26-year-old, dazzling at Madrid with 18 goals in 22 games, posted a simple scales emoji on Instagram—justice balanced.
Al-Khelaifi's Fury: "Blackmail" Accusations and Appeal Arsenal
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, in a blistering RMC interview, vowed war: "This is scandalous—we have recordings proving the agreement. Mbappé blackmailed us, demanding payment after leaving for free." The president accused the ruling of "dangerous precedent," threatening civil appeals to France's highest courts and potential defamation counters. "We'll fight to the end—this isn't finished," he raged, per club sources eyeing injunctions to freeze disbursement.
The €55 million sting—8% of PSG's wage bill—hits amid UEFA Financial Fair Play probes into their €700 million summer splurge. Non-payment risks transfer bans or league penalties, forcing a delicate dance.
Mbappé's Madrid Glow: From PSG Prince to Bernabéu Boss
The verdict caps Mbappé's turbulent PSG farewell: a seven-year reign with six Ligue 1 crowns but no Champions League, shadowed by 2022 renewal drama and 2024 exit bombshell. His free Madrid move—€15 million net salary, €150 million bonus—realized a boyhood dream, his 18 goals fueling a title charge.
PSG, sans talisman, languish third in Ligue 1, 10 points off Monaco, their post-Mbappé pivot questioning viability. Luis Enrique sidestepped: "Legal matters—my focus is football."
Legal Limbo and Ligue Legacy: Appeals, FFP, and Football's Fault Lines
PSG's civil appeal could drag to 2026, potentially stalling via injunctions, but LFP teeth—points docks, bans—loom. UEFA eyes the sum as "exceptional expense," easing FFP breathing room. Lawyers like Jean-Louis Dupont predict ripple: "Clubs can't withhold pay to force fees—players empowered."
Mbappé eyes charity donation, per insiders—his "Inspired by KM" foundation. For PSG ultras, betrayal; Madrid faithful, vindication.
A Superstar's Saga: From Paris to Payment Victory
Mbappé's arc—from Monaco marvel to PSG poster to Madrid maestro—mirrors football's mercenary age. The €55 million, pocket change against €200 million+ earnings, stands for principle: "I gave everything—they owe me," he confided pre-ruling.
As December deepens, the feud festers: appeals, accusations, an icon's imprint. PSG pays or battles—Mbappé, soaring in white, smiles from the Bernabéu. Football's theater: final act pending.
Date: 16th Dec, 2025
