Kylian Mbappé Reveals How Close He Came to Joining Liverpool in 2017

Kylian Mbappé has revealed that he came surprisingly close to joining Liverpool before choosing Paris Saint-Germain, with a private meeting involving former Reds manager Jürgen Klopp playing a key role in the negotiations.

The Real Madrid forward has opened up about one of the biggest alternative paths his career could have taken. Speaking to The Athletic, Mbappé explained that Liverpool was a serious option when he was emerging as one of Europe’s most exciting young players at Monaco in 2017. 

Mbappé was genuinely close to Liverpool move

Mbappé was only 18 when Liverpool made a major effort to convince him to move to Anfield.

The Frenchman’s mother, Fayza Lamari, was particularly enthusiastic about the possibility. She travelled to Liverpool during the negotiations, visited Anfield and became impressed by the club and its atmosphere.

According to Mbappé, his mother’s preferred destination was Liverpool, while he also had enormous respect for Klopp.

The forward ultimately decided that staying in France was more important to him at that stage of his career.

Klopp met Mbappé on a private jet

One of the most unusual details from the negotiations involved a meeting between Mbappé and Klopp aboard a private aircraft.

Mbappé recalled that Klopp spent time explaining Liverpool’s plans and trying to persuade the teenager to choose Anfield.

The meeting was previously described by Klopp as an extraordinary attempt by Liverpool to land the highly rated Monaco forward. The former Liverpool manager said the club had gone to considerable lengths to arrange the meeting discreetly. 

Mbappé has now confirmed that the meeting took place and said he had a very positive relationship with Klopp.

Despite the attraction of Liverpool and Klopp’s project, however, Mbappé had another priority.

Why Mbappé chose PSG instead

For Mbappé, the opportunity to remain close to home ultimately outweighed the appeal of moving to England.

Born in the Paris suburb of Bondy, the striker wanted to establish himself in his own country before making a move abroad.

He therefore chose PSG, initially joining the club from Monaco on loan before the transfer became permanent for a reported €180 million. 

That decision transformed PSG’s history, with Mbappé eventually becoming the club’s record goalscorer before leaving France for Real Madrid in 2024.

A major ‘what if’ for Liverpool

Had Mbappé accepted Liverpool’s proposal, the Premier League club could have secured one of the world’s biggest attacking talents before his global breakthrough.

Instead, his career took him from Monaco to PSG and eventually to Real Madrid, where he has continued to establish himself among the elite forwards in world football.

Liverpool’s interest has remained one of football’s most intriguing transfer near-misses, and Mbappé’s latest comments provide further insight into just how serious the possibility actually was. 

Mbappé’s decision was about more than football

The revelation also highlights the personal factors that can influence major transfer decisions.

Liverpool offered Mbappé the opportunity to work with Klopp and experience the Premier League, while his family had developed a strong connection with the club. But the teenager ultimately wanted to stay in France and make his name in Paris.

Years later, that decision has left Liverpool supporters wondering what might have happened had Mbappé accepted Klopp’s proposal.