Kylian Mbappe has revealed just how close he came to joining Liverpool in 2017, when the French forward was still a teenage sensation at Monaco and attracting interest from Europe's biggest clubs, with his family even favouring a move to Merseyside before a secret meeting with Jurgen Klopp on a private jet failed to change his eventual decision to join PSG.

Key Takeaways:

• Kylian Mbappe came close to joining Liverpool during his breakthrough season at Monaco in 2017.
• His mother strongly favoured a move to Anfield after visiting Merseyside and attending a Liverpool match.
• Jurgen Klopp held a secret meeting with Mbappe on a private jet to present Liverpool's sporting project.
• Mbappe ultimately chose PSG, later winning the 2018 World Cup and completing his move to Real Madrid in 2024.

Mbappe's Liverpool Transfer Almost Happened

Mbappe was one of the most coveted young players in European football in 2017, with his performances for Monaco attracting serious attention from the continent's biggest clubs. Among them were Liverpool, who made a major push to convince the teenager that Anfield was the right destination for the next stage of his career.

The club quickly became a favourite within Mbappe's family during the negotiations, with his mother travelling to Merseyside to experience the city and the atmosphere surrounding Liverpool.

Mbappe's Mother Fell in Love With Anfield

Mbappe's mother played a major role in encouraging the move to Liverpool. She visited Merseyside during the early stages of negotiations, attended a match at Anfield and came away impressed by the club's atmosphere.

"She went to the stadium, she met the people," Mbappe recalled, as quoted by The Athletic. "She was like, 'It's a wonderful club, everybody's so kind, it's a family club, a big club.' She went to Anfield and fell in love with it."

Mbappe regularly sought his mother's opinion throughout the process, and she was clear about her preference.

"All the time we were talking. 'What do you think, Mum?' She'd say, 'For me, you have to go to Liverpool.' I said, 'OK, OK, OK!' because Jurgen Klopp was an amazing manager."

Klopp Took His Liverpool Pitch to the Sky

Mbappe also revealed that he developed a strong relationship with Klopp after meeting the Liverpool boss. Liverpool were prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to land Mbappe, with Klopp arranging a highly secretive meeting aboard a luxurious five-room private jet.

Mbappe remembers the unusual meeting vividly, recalling how the aircraft remained airborne while Klopp explained his vision for the young forward.

"I remember we were on the plane and we were turning around and around in the air while he was explaining his project," Mbappe admitted.

The teenager was already aware of Liverpool's stature and Klopp's reputation, however, and knew that several major clubs were competing for his signature.

"I said, 'You don't need to convince me. You're Jurgen Klopp, it's Liverpool, a great club, so of course if I'm here, I have some interest. But I have other things, other projects, that are also good'."

Why Mbappe Chose PSG Over Liverpool

Despite Liverpool's efforts and his family's enthusiasm for a move to England, Mbappe ultimately decided that PSG offered something Liverpool could not: the chance to become a star in his hometown.

"I said to him, 'Whatever decision I take is going to be a good decision because we are talking about some of the biggest clubs in the world.'"

Mbappe eventually joined PSG on loan before the move was made permanent for €180 million, beginning a trophy-filled spell in the French capital. His decision also allowed him to remain in Paris, where he was born and raised.

"It's a funny story. But in the end I took the decision to go to PSG because for me, born and raised in Paris, there was no better feeling than to show I could be a star in my home town."

From Paris Hero to Real Madrid Superstar

Mbappe went on to build a remarkable career after turning down Liverpool. He became a World Cup winner with France in 2018, lifting the trophy as a teenager. At the 2026 World Cup, he continued his record-breaking run by surpassing Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi as the tournament's all-time top scorer before France were eliminated by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.

In 2024, Mbappe finally left his homeland and completed his long-awaited move to Real Madrid, beginning the latest chapter of a career that could have taken a very different path had he accepted Liverpool's advances back in 2017.