Kylian Mbappe has disclosed that he was close to signing for Liverpool back in 2016, when he was just starting to make a name for himself at Monaco. The France and Real Madrid forward stated that Liverpool attempted to recruit him when he was 18, but he ultimately went a different route after deciding he wanted to stay in his hometown of Paris.
Mbappe clarified that his mother was very much in favour of a transfer to Liverpool and was impressed by the club after visiting the city and Anfield. Even with her strong support, the young forward felt he was not ready to leave France and wanted to prove himself in Paris first.
Kylian Mbappe was near to the Liverpool transfer
In an interview with The Athletic, Mbappe said Liverpool was his mother’s top choice for him. She was a huge admirer of Jurgen Klopp and often urged her son to picture himself playing at Anfield.
Mbappe, though, did not take her advice. He wanted to play in his own city and believed that leaving France before establishing himself would not be the right move.
His mother went to Liverpool as part of the early talks and saw the city and stadium. She also met people at the club and was impressed by what she encountered.
Liverpool got ready for Kylian Mbappe’s transfer
Mbappe remembered how his mother grew even more attached to Liverpool after visiting Anfield. She attended several matches by herself so she could soak in the atmosphere and imagine her son playing there.
Jurgen Klopp later shared how seriously Liverpool chased the potential transfer. Speaking as a pundit during the 2026 World Cup, the former Liverpool manager said the club organised a private flight from Blackpool to Nice for the Mbappe family.
As per Klopp, the whole family flew on a private jet with several rooms. Liverpool representatives spoke with the family during the flight and offered food as they tried to seal the potential move without drawing attention.
Even with the effort put into the meeting, the talks ultimately did not result in an agreement. Klopp remembered that after the flight and discussions, Mbappe ended up choosing Paris.
PSG became Kylian Mbappe’s selection
Mbappe said that, despite how near he was to Liverpool, his choice ultimately hinged on his bond with Paris. Having been born and raised in the French capital, he wanted the chance to become a star in his hometown.
The forward eventually signed for Paris St-Germain on loan, with the deal including an option to make the transfer permanent for €180 million (£165.7 million). He then spent seven years in Paris and became the club’s all-time top scorer.
Mbappe eventually left PSG for Real Madrid in 2024, but the Liverpool opportunity remains one of the major moves he could have made earlier in his career.
Looking back, Mbappe called the episode a funny story, especially given how much effort Liverpool had made to persuade him and his family. His mother’s enthusiasm for Anfield ultimately could not change his wish to stay in Paris.