Liverpool Came Close to Signing Mbappe, Reveals Real Madrid Star

Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he came close to joining Liverpool in 2016, with the forward’s mother particularly keen on a move to Anfield.

Mbappe was 18 and playing for Monaco in Ligue 1 when Liverpool attempted to bring him to England.

The Reds, then managed by Jurgen Klopp, reportedly went to considerable lengths to convince Mbappe and his family. Klopp previously revealed that Liverpool arranged a private jet and food for the family during their efforts to complete the deal.

Speaking to The Athletic, Mbappe explained that Liverpool was his mother’s preferred destination.

“I was close to [joining] Liverpool. The favourite destination for my mum was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there,” he said.

However, Mbappe ultimately decided against the move because he wanted to remain in Paris and establish himself in his home city before leaving France.

“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.

“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’.”

Mbappe’s mother fell in love with Anfield

Mbappe, now 27, revealed that his mother travelled to Liverpool during the early stages of the negotiations to see the club and stadium for herself.

“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’,” Mbappe said.

“She went to Anfield and fell in love with it. She watched a few games alone, to feel the atmosphere, because she wanted to imagine me in this stadium.”

Klopp later recalled the unusual efforts Liverpool made to keep the meeting discreet.

Speaking as a pundit on Magenta TV during the 2026 World Cup, the former Liverpool manager explained that a flight travelled from Blackpool to Nice in France, where Mbappe and his family boarded a private jet.

“We really went all out. Then we flew around in a circle, talked with the family, ate good food,” Klopp said.

Liverpool did not want the meeting to become public, but their efforts ultimately failed to persuade Mbappe.

“We flew in a circle. It was fantastic. And then he went to Paris,” Klopp added.

Mbappe also reflected on the situation as an amusing part of his career.

“It’s a funny story,” he said.

“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 hometown.”

Mbappe chose PSG

Mbappe eventually joined Paris St-Germain on loan from Monaco, with the agreement including an option for the transfer to become permanent.

That option was eventually triggered for a reported 180m euros (£165.7m).

The France international spent seven years at PSG, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer before leaving France for Real Madrid in 2024.

His decision in 2016 therefore meant Liverpool missed out on one of the world’s most prolific forwards, while Mbappe chose to begin his rise to stardom in his hometown.