Mateta’s Palace dispute deepens after losing appeals to end contract early

• Striker wants move and said final year of deal was invalid

• 29-year-old took his case to tribunal and Fifa but lost

Jean-Philippe Mateta is in dispute with Crystal Palace over the final year of his contract but failed in an attempt to have it ruled invalid by an independent Premier League tribunal and Fifa. The France striker signed a four-and-a-half-year contract when he joined permanently from Mainz in January 2022 after an initial loan, in a deal that also included the option of a 12-month extension. That was activated by Palace in 2024, with Mateta’s contract now due to expire at the end of this season.

But it is understood the 29-year-old and his representatives have disputed whether that extension was valid and took the case to an independent tribunal under Premier League regulations last season. Official confirmation of the outcome has not been disclosed, although Palace insist Mateta’s contract remains binding and he played in their defeat at Everton on Saturday. Fifa also rejected his claim after ruling it did not have jurisdiction over the dispute. Mateta’s representative has been approached for comment.