Mateta claims final year of Palace deal is invalid
Jean-Philippe Mateta is challenging the validity of the final 10 months on his Crystal Palace contract.
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has taken his contract dispute to FIFA. The French international is contesting the validity of the final year of his Palace deal, which is set to end in June 2027. According to BBC Sport, Mateta believes the club's optional extension should be deemed invalid. Initially joining Palace from Mainz on loan in January 2021, he made the move permanent in January 2022.
Mateta signed a four-and-a-half-year contract that included an option for an additional 12 months. Palace exercised this option in 2024, extending his tenure until the end of the 2026-27 season. The 29-year-old had previously faced an independent tribunal under Premier League rules, but FIFA later ruled the dispute outside its jurisdiction.
Despite this, Mateta remains an integral player for Crystal Palace, starting their Premier League opener against Everton on Saturday. His future at the club has been uncertain since January, when he almost joined AC Milan, with the proposed move falling through after a medical issue. Palace reportedly offered Mateta a new contract that could keep him at the club until 2030, but no agreement has been finalized.
If Mateta's challenge proves successful, he could potentially become a free agent before the current expiry date of his contract.
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