The celebrations for Ousmane Dembélé’s historic 2025 are being met with a sharp reality check in the boardroom.
On Friday, January 9, 2026, reports from RMC Sport and Foot Mercato confirmed that the freshly crowned Ballon d'Or winner has refused Paris Saint-Germain’s first formal offer for a contract extension.
While Dembélé’s current deal runs until June 2028, PSG had hoped to "lock down" the world’s best player with improved terms and an extension to 2031. However, the initial proposal has been deemed insufficient by the player’s representatives, sparking the first major contract standoff of the new year.
The Financial Gap: World's Best Player Status
The friction lies in a massive valuation gap between the club and the player's camp.
PSG’s Offer: A reported €30 million per year fixed salary, supplemented by heavy performance-based bonuses.
The Demand: Dembélé’s agents are reportedly holding out for nearly double that figure—closer to €60 million per year—arguing that his status as the Ballon d'Or, "The Best" FIFA Men's Player, and Champions League Player of the Year justifies a salary befitting a global icon.
The Precedent: PSG is cautious about returning to the "mega-contract" era of Mbappe and Neymar. The club’s current strategy focuses on a balanced wage structure, a policy that notably saw goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma leave for Manchester City last summer.
The "Europe's Giants" Alert
Dembélé’s refusal has sent shockwaves across Europe, with several top-tier clubs reportedly monitoring the situation closely:
Manchester City: Despite ruling out a move last summer, City are keeping tabs on his availability given their recent injury crisis.
Liverpool: Seeking a long-term successor for Mohamed Salah, the Reds have long admired Dembélé’s explosive pace.
The Saudi Pro League: Reports suggest Al-Hilal would be willing to meet any salary demands, though Dembélé has publicly stated his desire to stay in Europe for his "prime years."
Dembélé's 2025: A Year Like No Other
Award,Status
Ballon d'Or,Winner
The Best FIFA Men's Player,Winner
UCL Player of the Season,Winner
Globe Soccer World's Best,Winner
Team Success,Sextuple Winner (PSG)
Luis Enrique on the Negotiations: "Ousmane knows how much we value him. He is our leader on the pitch. These discussions are normal at this level, but we are calm. We want him to be the face of PSG for a decade."
The Verdict: This is a classic power play. Dembélé holds all the cards after delivering PSG’s first-ever Champions League trophy and a Sextuple. While a departure this January is highly unlikely, the "snag" in negotiations suggests that the Parisian hierarchy will have to dig much deeper to satisfy their talisman.