Jean-Philippe Mateta's attempts to force an early exit from Crystal Palace have hit another wall, with the French striker losing separate appeals to an independent Premier League tribunal and FIFA in his bid to have his contract declared invalid.
Mateta joined Palace permanently from Mainz in January 2022 following a loan spell, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal that carried an option for a further 12-month extension. Palace triggered that extension in 2024, meaning the 29-year-old's current terms are set to run until the end of this season. However, Mateta and his camp have challenged the legitimacy of that extension, taking their case to an independent tribunal operating under Premier League rules last season.
The precise details of the tribunal's ruling have not been made public, but Palace maintain that the contract stands and remains fully enforceable. Mateta's continued involvement with the first team supports that stance—he featured in Palace's weekend defeat at Everton, during which he struck the woodwork. FIFA also weighed in on the dispute, though it declined to rule on the substance of the case, determining instead that it lacked jurisdiction over the matter. Representatives for the striker have yet to respond to requests for comment.
Mateta has made no secret of his desire to leave Selhurst Park, with reports linking him to Aston Villa, who are reportedly weighing up a sale of Ollie Watkins to Saudi club Al-Hilal. The striker's path away from Palace has already hit obstacles this year—a proposed £30million transfer to AC Milan collapsed in January after he failed a medical due to a knee problem, sidelining him for two months before he returned to help Palace lift the Conference League title. His relationship with sections of the Palace fanbase has been strained since, and he could face a similarly frosty atmosphere when Manchester City visit south London on Friday for Palace's first home game of the new season.
Elsewhere at Selhurst Park, new manager Pierre Sage moved to quell speculation over Ismaïla Sarr, insisting the Senegalese forward has no intention of leaving despite reported interest from Galatasaray. Sarr missed Saturday's 2-0 loss at Everton with what Sage described as a groin issue, and the manager dismissed suggestions that the absence was linked to a transfer request.
"We took the decision before the session with the doctor, the player, and me, to let him get treatment and do an individual session, and he will be back on Monday with us," Sage said. "For the moment, we don't want him to leave. He is under contract with us with three years to go and he will be with us on Monday."
Palace are bracing for further transfer activity in the coming days, with both Adam Wharton and Daniel Muñoz attracting attention from rival clubs. Muñoz, who has entered the final two years of his deal, has been linked with moves to Everton, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. On the incoming front, Palace have already secured a loan deal for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi, though they may need to add another centre-back before the transfer window closes if concerns over Chadi Riad's knee prove serious.
Riad, who missed over a year of action after suffering an ACL injury on only his second appearance for the club following his 2024 arrival, was stretchered off during the second half against Everton after attempting to block a cross. "I hope it will be better than we think," Sage said. "We await the medical tests."
Based on reporting from The Guardian.