Mbappé tells PSG he plans to leave the club as football saga draws to a close

France striker Kylian Mbappé has told Paris Saint-Germain he plans to leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires, according to a number of reports. 

Kylian Mbappé arrived at Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 and has become the club's record marksman with 244 goals. AP - Michel Euler

The 25-year-old, who arrived in Paris from Monaco in 2017, had extended his contract until 2024 but last summer declined to activate a clause allowing him to stay another year at Ligue 1 champions PSG.

According to The Athletic, Mbappe has informed the club of his decision – although the terms of his exit are “yet to be fully agreed”.

The club and Mbappé are to make an official statement "when everything is finalised in the next few months". 

PSG has yet to comment publicly. 

Mbappé will leave PSG on a free transfer but the blow to the club will be softened by an agreement they reached last summer which will see the player waive bonuses amounting to around 60 to 70 million euros.

🚨 BREAKING: Kylian Mbappe has communicated decision to leave PSG this summer. Terms yet to be fully agreed. #PSG + 25yo will communicate when finalised in coming months. Will save club €200m per year & they will focus on youth / collective @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/eCsQoaKeXL

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) February 15, 2024

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After seven seasons at PSG, Mbappé, the club's all-time top scorer, is tipped to seal a move to Real Madrid.

Real have made no secret of their desire to sign him. In 2019, 2021 and 2022, club president Florentino Perez considered signing him, only to be rebuffed each time. 

For PSG, the departure of their main star, a year after the exits of Neymar and Lionel Messi, marks the beginning of a new era of uncertainty. 

Mbappe, a member of France's 2018 World Cup-winning team, signed for PSG in 2017 for 180 million euros, becoming the second most expensive player ever after Brazilian Neymar.

The striker helped the club win five Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups. He is PSG's all-time leading scorer with 243 goals in 290 games.

(with newswires)