Jurgen Klopp has revealed the extent of Liverpool’s attempts to sign Kylian Mbappe, describing it as “the most expensive non-transfer we’ve ever made.”
Mbappe was still a teenager at Monaco when Liverpool made their first approach in 2017, believing it may be their only opportunity to sign a generational talent.
That led to a remarkable flight from Blackpool to Nice in a lavish private jet, which flew around for hours while club officials held talks with the player and his family.
Klopp was present and made a strong pitch to the future France captain, and speaking ahead of Thursday’s World Cup quarter-final against Morocco, he told the story on MagentaTV.
UEFA Champions League Semi-finals 1st leg match between AS Monaco 0-2 Juventus at Stade Louis II in Monaco. (Photo by Maurizio Borsari/AFLO)
UEFA Champions League Semi-finals 1st leg match between AS Monaco 0-2 Juventus at Stade Louis II in Monaco. (Photo by Maurizio Borsari/AFLO)
“With Mbappe, it was before he went to Paris. That was roughly €500 million, the most expensive non-transfer we’ve ever made,” he explained per GOAL.
“We flew from Blackpool to Nice. In Nice, the whole Mbappe family boarded a private jet with five cabins.
“We really went big. Then we flew around in circles and had a delicious meal. We weren’t allowed to be seen.
“It was great – and then he went to Paris.”
2YP03W0 Anfield, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. 27th Nov, 2024. Champions League Football, Liverpool versus Real Madrid; Conor Bradley of Liverpool wins the ball from Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid with a sliding tackle Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News
2YP03W0 Anfield, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. 27th Nov, 2024. Champions League Football, Liverpool versus Real Madrid; Conor Bradley of Liverpool wins the ball from Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid with a sliding tackle Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News
Mbappe signed for Paris Saint-Germain in a loan-to-buy deal worth €180 million soon after that meeting, going on to score 256 goals and lay on 110 assists in 308 games for the club.
Now at Real Madrid, he is widely considered one of the best players in the world who, still only 27, would have been a game-changing signing for Liverpool.
He greeted Klopp on the touchline after France’s 2-0 victory, with the pair waving to his mother, Fayza, in the stands.
It was Fayza Lamari’s love for Liverpool which led to those talks in the French skies almost a decade ago, with the forward telling the Telegraph in 2022: “I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum!”
Klopp: We tried – and failed – to sign 2 other France players!
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (centre) speaks to MagentaTV following the FIFA World Cup round of 32 match at Boston Stadium, United States. Picture date: Monday June 29, 2026.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (centre) speaks to MagentaTV following the FIFA World Cup round of 32 match at Boston Stadium, United States. Picture date: Monday June 29, 2026.
Mbappe was not the only France player who Klopp failed to sign, with the soon-to-be Germany manager discussing attempts to bring Ousmane Dembele and Adrien Rabiot to Anfield.
“It’s extremely tough for me right now,” he joked. “I’ve already negotiated with three of their players and never got them.”
On his call with Dembele – then only an 18-year-old at Rennes – in 2016, Klopp said: “I don’t know if he even knew who we were.
“Then my phone fell on the floor. The only outcome of that evening was: my phone was broken.”
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