Kylian Mbappe says family ties kept him from Liverpool

Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he was on the verge of joining Liverpool in the summer of 2017, after concrete talks with the club while he was still a French striker at Monaco, but he ultimately chose to stay in Paris.

Monaco breakthrough and loan move

At Monaco the 16‑year‑old burst onto the scene, recording 27 goals and 16 assists in 60 matches and being hailed as one of the most exciting young players the world has ever seen. His performances attracted interest from several elite clubs, but in August 2017 he accepted a season‑long loan to Paris Saint-Germain, signing the deal at the age of 18. The move was intended as a stepping stone before a permanent transfer could be arranged.

During that loan spell Mbappe impressed further, prompting Paris Saint-Germain to trigger their mandatory purchase clause in February 2018. The clause was valued at €180m, a figure that underscored his rising market value. He then embarked on a prolific spell that would see him become the French club’s all‑time record scorer.

Family influence and Anfield allure

Mbappe has repeatedly spoken about his mother’s enthusiasm for Jurgen Klopp and her desire to see him play at Anfield. “My mum was a big fan of Jürgen Klopp, and the favourite destination for my mum was Liverpool,” he told The Athletic, adding that she even visited the stadium and fell in love with the atmosphere. “She kept saying ‘Liverpool – you’re going to be there, playing at Anfield, it’s going to be insane for you.’”

While covering France at this year’s World Cup, Klopp recalled a private‑jet meeting with the French striker in 2017, describing it as “the most expensive non‑transfer we’ve ever made”. Mbappe remembered the conversation vividly: “We were turning around in the air while he explained his project. I said, ‘You don’t need to convince me, you’re Jürgen Klopp, it’s Liverpool, a great club, so of course I have some interest.’”

From Paris to Madrid – the final chapter

After the €180m option was exercised, Mbappe went on to score a remarkable 256 goals in 308 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, cementing his status as the club’s all‑time leading scorer. He later ran down his contract and, in July 2024, completed a free transfer to Real Madrid, joining the Spanish giants as a free agent.

Speaking after his move, Mbappe reflected on his Parisian roots, saying, “Born and raised in the Saint city of Paris, there was no better feeling than to show I could be a star in my hometown.” His decision closed the chapter that once seemed poised for Anfield, while Liverpool have since turned their attention to other targets, including the potential sale of Florian Wirtz to Bayern Munich.