PSG pull the brakes on contract talks with Ousmane Dembele over huge salary demand

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly paused negotiations with Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele after discussions over a pay rise hit a stumbling block, according to L’Équipe.

Talks between Dembélé’s representatives, led by agent Moussa Sissoko, and PSG’s sporting advisor Luis Campos began shortly after the 28-year-old’s Ballon d’Or triumph at the Théâtre du Châtelet. However, the club has since pulled the brakes due to concerns over the player’s salary demands.

Dembélé’s camp believes his current contract, worth just over half of the €30 million net annual salary once earned by Neymar and Lionel Messi, fails to reflect his status as the world’s best player.

The French forward enjoyed a sensational 2024/25 campaign, netting 35 goals and providing 16 assists in 53 appearances as PSG dominated domestically.

The Parisian club, however, is maintaining a cautious approach. Club officials reportedly view the Ballon d’Or as a collective success rather than an individual milestone and are reluctant to break their new wage structure.

PSG are currently prioritising renewals for emerging stars such as Bradley Barcola, Willian Pacho, and Mahamadou Mayulu.

Financial prudence has become central to PSG’s strategy amid shrinking television revenues and tighter UEFA financial controls.

Despite acknowledging Dembélé’s leadership and on-pitch influence, the club’s budget cannot accommodate his current demands, at least for now.