Mbappé admits he was close to Liverpool transfer saga 2026

Key Points

• It is now clear that Kylian Mbappé had extensive discussions with Liverpool in 2017 when he played for Monaco.
• The discussions even involved Mbappé flying on a private jet for a chat with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in the South of France.
• Mbappé’s mother and agent Fayza Lamari were very interested in the transfer and “fell in love with the club” during their visit.
• But Mbappé decided to join PSG because he wanted to become a superstar in his hometown before leaving France.
• According to Klopp, the case was “the most expensive non-transfer we ever made”.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 23, 2026 – Kylian Mbappé has provided the most detailed account yet of how close he came to joining Liverpool in 2017, revealing that his mother and agent, Fayza Lamari, was a decisive advocate for the move after multiple visits to Anfield. Speaking in an interview with The Athletic, the Real Madrid and France forward confirmed that he held a private meeting with then-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp aboard a chartered jet that flew in circles over the south of France to avoid publicity. The discussions took place while Mbappé, then 18, was emerging as one of Europe’s most sought-after talents at AS Monaco, with Liverpool among the clubs mounting a serious bid for his signature.

What did Kylian Mbappé say about the Liverpool talks?

Mbappé told The Athletic: “It was while I was playing in Monaco. I had to take a decision. And yes, I was close to Liverpool. My mum was a big fan of Jürgen Klopp and the favourite destination for my mum was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there.” He added: “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.” Describing his mother’s enthusiasm, he said: “She went there [for] the first step of the negotiations. She went to the city, she went to 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.’” Mbappé continued: “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.”

How did the private jet meeting with Jürgen Klopp unfold?

According to Mbappé, the Liverpool delegation flew from Blackpool to Nice to meet him and his family, before the aircraft circled in French airspace to keep the talks secret. “I remember we were on the plane and we were turning around and around in the air while he was explaining his project,” Mbappé said, making a circular motion with his finger. He recalled telling Klopp:

“You don’t need to convince me. You’re Jürgen Klopp, it’s Liverpool, a great club, so of course if I’m here, I have some interest. But I have other things, other projects, that are also good.”

Mbappé added:

“Whatever decision I take is going to be a good decision because we are talking about some of the biggest clubs in the world.”

Klopp, speaking earlier in 2026 on German channel Magenta TV, described the episode as “the most expensive non-transfer we ever made”, recalling that the jet had five cabins and that the group shared a meal during the flight.

Why did Kylian Mbappé choose PSG over Liverpool?

Mbappé said his overriding motive was to prove himself in Paris before moving abroad. “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 home town,” he told The Athletic. He joined PSG initially on loan for the 2017–18 season, with the deal later made permanent in a transfer reported to be worth around £166 million (€180 million). He remained at the Parc des Princes until 2024, when he completed a high-profile move to Real Madrid.

What did Jürgen Klopp and other sources say about the deal?

Klopp’s public comments have aligned closely with Mbappé’s account. As reported by multiple outlets, Klopp told Magenta TV that Liverpool “really pulled out all the stops”, flying to Nice and hosting the Mbappé family on a private jet with five rooms. “We just flew in circles, talked with the family, and had a delicious meal. We weren’t allowed to be seen,” Klopp said, according to ESPN and other sources. Daniel Taylor of The Athletic, who conducted the interview with Mbappé, reported that the negotiation remained closely guarded until Klopp’s remarks earlier in 2026 brought details into the public domain. ESPN noted that Mbappé had previously referenced Liverpool interest in 2022 but said at that time he was mainly weighing PSG and Real Madrid.

How did Fayza Lamari influence the Liverpool push?

Fayza Lamari, who acts as Mbappé’s agent, emerged as a central figure in the Liverpool courtship. Mbappé said she repeatedly urged him to choose Anfield:

“All the time we were talking. ‘What do you think, Mum?’ She’d say, ‘For me, you have to go to Liverpool.’”

Her independent visits to Liverpool—touring the city, meeting club representatives and attending matches—were intended to gauge whether the environment would suit her son’s development.

“She watched a few games alone, to feel the atmosphere, because she wanted to imagine me in this stadium,”

Mbappé said.

What happened after the 2017 decision?

After opting for PSG, Mbappé quickly became one of the most dominant forwards in world football, helping the club to multiple domestic titles and establishing himself as France’s all-time leading scorer with 66 goals in 106 appearances. He won Golden Boots at consecutive World Cups and surpassed Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi as the tournament’s all-time top scorer as France reached the semi-finals at the 2026 World Cup, before losing to Spain. His 2024 transfer to Real Madrid placed him at the centre of another elite project, yet the 2017 Liverpool episode remains a notable “what if” in recent transfer history.

Background of the particular development

The 2017 transfer window saw intense competition for Mbappé’s signature, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool among the leading contenders. Liverpool’s approach under Klopp emphasised a personal pitch and confidentiality, resulting in the mid-air meeting designed to avoid media scrutiny. PSG moved decisively with an initial loan that included an obligation/option to buy, securing Mbappé’s services before his 19th birthday. The episode has been referenced periodically since, but Mbappé’s 2026 interview with The Athletic provided the most comprehensive confirmation of how advanced the Liverpool discussions became and how strongly his mother backed the move.

Prediction: How could this revelation affect football fans and transfer watchers?

This development is likely to reignite debate among football fans about how marginal factorsfamily preference, city attachment and timing—shape elite careers. For Liverpool supporters, the account underscores how close the club came to securing a generational talent during Klopp’s tenure, potentially altering the trajectory of their attacking options in subsequent seasons.

For broader audiences, including fantasy football players, betting markets and football media, the story reinforces the importance of off-field dynamics in transfer outcomes and may prompt renewed speculation whenever top young players face similar crossroads. In practical terms, the revelation is unlikely to change current squad planning but will endure as a reference point in discussions about Liverpool’s recruitment history and the “one that got away” narrative.