Kylian Mbappé Reveals Why He Turned Down Liverpool for PSG in 2017
Kylian Mbappé has reflected on Liverpool’s attempt to sign him in 2017, revealing that his mother strongly favoured a move to Anfield before he chose Paris Saint-Germain instead.
The forward was emerging as one of Europe’s most coveted young players after his breakthrough at Monaco, with several elite clubs pursuing him. Liverpool made a detailed pitch under Jürgen Klopp, but Mbappé opted to remain in France and join PSG, the club from his home city.
Liverpool’s 2017 pursuit
- Mbappé’s family considered Merseyside a serious option during the discussions over his future.
- His mother visited Liverpool, met people connected to the club and attended matches at Anfield to experience the atmosphere herself.
- Mbappé said she was struck by the welcome she received and viewed Liverpool as both a major club and a family-oriented one.
- She repeatedly encouraged her son to choose Liverpool, while Mbappé also held Klopp in particularly high regard.
- Klopp arranged a private meeting with Mbappé aboard a five-room private jet, using the flight to outline his plans for the player and the team.
Mbappé recalled that the aircraft was circling while Klopp explained the project. He told the Liverpool manager that persuasion was hardly necessary given Klopp’s standing and the scale of the club, but stressed that he had other appealing options under consideration.
He felt that whichever choice he made would be a strong one because the discussions involved some of world football’s biggest institutions. Ultimately, however, the prospect of becoming a leading player in Paris carried greater personal weight.
PSG decision shaped Mbappé’s career
Mbappé initially moved to PSG on loan before the arrangement became a permanent €180 million transfer. The deal began a trophy-filled period in the French capital and established him as the central figure of the club’s sporting project.
His rise also continued with France. He won the World Cup in 2018 while still a teenager, and later became the competition’s record scorer, moving beyond Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi during the 2026 tournament. France’s campaign ended in the semi-finals against eventual winners Spain.
Mbappé finally left France in 2024, completing his switch to Real Madrid after years of speculation over his next destination. Liverpool, meanwhile, remain the major Premier League club he came close to joining before PSG secured his signature.
