Kylian Mbappe has opened up on just how close he came to joining Liverpool, offering fresh detail on a transfer saga that has fascinated the club’s supporters for years.
The France captain’s connection to Anfield is well documented.
Jurgen Klopp revealed earlier this year that Liverpool flew Mbappe and his family from Blackpool to Nice on a private jet in 2017, in what the German later called “the most expensive non-transfer” of his time at the club.
That pursuit began when Mbappe was still a teenager breaking through at Monaco, long before he became one of the most sought-after players in world football.
Liverpool were among several major clubs chasing his signature at the time.
Now Mbappe has given his own account of the decision he faced, explaining the pull of Anfield and the reasoning that ultimately took him elsewhere.
“It was while I was playing in Monaco,” Mbappe told The Athletic.
“I had to take a decision. And yes, I was close to Liverpool. My mum was a big fan of Jurgen Klopp and the favourite destination for my mum was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there.
“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. But yes, my mum was always saying, ‘Liverpool — you’re going to be there, playing at Anfield, it’s going to be insane for you.’ I was like, ‘OK!’
“She went there (for) the first step of the negotiations. 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.'”
The comments echo long-standing reports about his mother’s fondness for the club. Mbappe told the Daily Telegraph in 2022 that Liverpool was “the favourite club of my mum,” adding that the family had met with the club during his Monaco days.
His decision ultimately favoured sentiment over his mother’s preference. Mbappe joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan in the summer of 2017, before the move was made permanent for a reported €180 million fee the following year.
He went on to spend seven seasons at PSG, winning six Ligue 1 titles and finishing as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 256 goals, before leaving on a free transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024.
Liverpool’s interest did not end with his move to Paris.
The club were reported to have made contact again during Mbappe’s later contract disputes with PSG, though he ultimately stayed in France before eventually completing his switch to the Bernabeu.
Mbappe, now 27, has continued his career at Real Madrid, where he has become one of the club’s key attacking figures since his arrival.
“I always wanted to break records and (make sure) that people remembered my name.
“But I have to be honest, I didn’t expect to be the top scorer of all time at the World Cup, at 27.”@DTAthletic‘s exclusive interview with Kylian Mbappe.
▪️ Making World Cup history
▪️ Asking… pic.twitter.com/8EIcxbpbc2
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) September 22, 2026
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