Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he came remarkably close to joining Liverpool in 2016, with his mother reportedly favoring a move to Anfield after visiting the club and becoming captivated by its atmosphere and culture.
The France and Real Madrid forward was only 18 and playing for Monaco in Ligue 1 when Liverpool attempted to sign him. Jurgen Klopp was manager at the time, and the German later revealed that the club went to extraordinary lengths to convince Mbappe and his family, including arranging a private jet for their visit to England.
Despite the effort Liverpool made, Mbappe ultimately decided against the move. His preference was to remain in France and eventually join Paris St-Germain, allowing him to develop his career in his hometown of Paris rather than leave the country before establishing himself as a major player.
How Mbappe almost joined Liverpool
The story of how Mbappe almost joined Liverpool began when the teenager attracted attention from several major European clubs during his breakthrough at Monaco.
Liverpool emerged as a serious option, with Klopp personally involved in the club’s attempt to persuade the young forward and his family that Anfield was the right place for the next stage of his career.
Mbappe has now revealed that his mother was particularly enthusiastic about the possibility. She was a major admirer of Klopp and believed Liverpool could provide an unforgettable environment for her son.
“I was close to [joining] Liverpool. The favorite destination for my mum was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there,” Mbappe told The Athletic.
His mother travelled to Liverpool as part of the early stages of the negotiations, visiting the city and meeting people at the club before going to Anfield.
According to Mbappe, the experience left a lasting impression on her.
“She went to the city, the stadium, she met the people. She was like, ‘it’s a wonderful club, everybody’s so kind, it’s a family club, a big club’,” he recalled.
She also attended several matches at Anfield alone because she wanted to experience the atmosphere and imagine what it would be like for her son to play there.
Klopp’s extraordinary Liverpool pitch
Liverpool were not simply relying on the appeal of Anfield. Klopp later revealed just how seriously the club pursued Mbappe during the negotiations.
Speaking as a pundit during the 2026 World Cup, the former Liverpool manager explained that the club arranged for the Mbappe family to travel on a private jet from Blackpool to Nice in France.
Klopp said the entire family boarded the aircraft, which he described as having several rooms, before the group travelled together while discussing the proposed move.
“We really went all out. Then we flew around in a circle, talked with the family, ate good food,” Jurgen Klopp said.
The unusual meeting was designed to keep the negotiations discreet because Liverpool did not want their discussions with Mbappe and his family to become public.
Despite the elaborate effort, the meeting did not result in the transfer Liverpool wanted.
“We flew in a circle. It was fantastic. And then he went to Paris,” Jurgen Klopp explained.
Mbappe now looks back on the episode with some amusement, describing it as a “funny story”, but his decision at the time was driven by something much more personal than Liverpool’s impressive pitch.
Why Kylian Mbappe chose Paris over Liverpool
Mbappe explained that he ultimately ignored his mother’s preference because he wanted to remain in his home city and continue developing in France.
The forward had grown up in Paris and did not want to leave his country before establishing himself as a significant player.
“I didn’t listen because I wanted to play in my city, Paris. I didn’t want to leave my country before I was someone,” he said.
That decision eventually led him to PSG, where he joined on loan from Monaco in a deal that included an option for the move to become permanent for €180m.
The transfer proved transformational for Mbappe. He spent seven years in Paris, became the club’s record goalscorer and established himself as one of the leading forwards in world football before leaving for Real Madrid in 2024.
Looking back, the Liverpool opportunity represents one of the biggest alternative paths his career could have taken.
A transfer that could have changed football history
The revelation adds another fascinating chapter to the story of one of football’s most closely followed careers.
Had Mbappe accepted Liverpool’s proposal, his development would have taken place under Klopp at Anfield rather than in Paris. The forward could have experienced the Premier League as a teenager, while Liverpool would have secured a player who eventually became one of the world’s most prolific attackers.
Instead, Mbappe followed the emotional pull of his birthplace and chose PSG, where he became the club’s record scorer before eventually making his long-awaited move to Real Madrid.
His mother may have fallen in love with Anfield, but Mbappe’s own priorities ultimately determined the outcome.
For Liverpool, the episode remains an intriguing example of how close the club came to signing a player who would go on to win major honors and become France’s all-time leading goalscorer.
For Mbappe, however, the decision was about more than football. At 18, he wanted to remain in Paris, represent his hometown and establish himself before taking the next step abroad.
Years later, the story of how Mbappe almost joined Liverpool offers a glimpse into just how different his career might have looked had he followed his mother’s preferred destination.
