Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has challenged the validity of the final year of his contract with the Premier League club and taken the case to FIFA.
The France international, who was born in Sevran, France to Congolese parents, is disputing the final 10 months of his contract, which is currently set to expire in June 2027.
Mateta joined Palace from German side Mainz in 2021, initially on an 18-month loan, before making the transfer permanent in January 2022.
He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract which included an option for an additional 12 months. Palace activated that option in 2024, extending his stay until the end of the 2026/27 season.
However, the 29-year-old believes the optional final year of his contract should be declared invalid.
His case was heard by an independent tribunal under Premier League rules, with the contract understood to have remained binding.
Mateta then took his case to FIFA, but the world governing body ruled earlier this week that it does not have jurisdiction to overturn the contract.
If Mateta succeeds in his challenge, he could potentially become a free agent before the current expiry date.
The striker has scored 67 goals for Palace since joining the club and played a key role in their FA Cup and UEFA Conference League triumphs.
He also came close to leaving Palace for AC Milan in January, but the proposed move collapsed over an issue with his knee.
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