Jurgen Klopp reveals Liverpool’s secret Kylian Mbappe transfer meeting after France’s World Cup win

Last Updated on 10 July 2026

Jurgen Klopp has lifted the lid on one of Liverpool’s greatest transfer near-misses, revealing just how far the club went in an attempt to sign Kylian Mbappe before his blockbuster move to PSG.

Speaking on German broadcaster MagentaTV during coverage of France’s World Cup quarter-final win over Morocco, the former Liverpool boss opened up on a secret operation to convince a teenage Mbappe to swap Monaco for Anfield back in 2017.

Jurgen Klopp reveals Liverpool’s secret meeting with Kylian Mbappe

Klopp described the lengths Liverpool went to in their pursuit of Kylian Mbappe, who was still a rising star at Monaco at the time and yet to make the £180 million move to PSG that would launch him into superstardom.

Klopp branded it the costliest deal Liverpool never actually completed, joking about the sheer scale of the effort that went into wooing the family.

He revealed that the Reds flew out from Blackpool to Nice, where the entire Mbappe family then boarded a private jet kitted out with what he described as “five rooms or something” for the talks.

From there, things got even more secretive.

Rather than sit down for talks on the ground, Klopp explained that the meeting took place mid-air, with the plane deliberately looping in circles so nobody could clock who was on board.

By his own admission, the whole experience was memorable — good food, good conversation, and a serious charm offensive from Liverpool’s camp. But for all the effort, it wasn’t enough. Mbappe ultimately chose PSG, first on loan before a deal worth around €180 million was made permanent, setting him on the path to Real Madrid glory years later.

The revelation is a reminder of just how close Liverpool’s owners came to landing one of the sport’s true generational talents before his value skyrocketed.

Mbappe would go on to become one of PSG’s most decorated players before completing his long-awaited move to Real Madrid, a transfer saga that dragged on for years and repeatedly linked him with Anfield along the way.

For Liverpool supporters, it’s another “what could have been” transfers to add to the pile.

Also Read: France WAGs at the World Cup 2026: Meet the women behind Les Bleus

Kylian Mbappe sends France into their third consecutive World Cup semi-final

Klopp’s comments came after Mbappe produced another outstanding World Cup 2026 performance to help France beat Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals.

Despite missing a first half penalty, the 27-year-old scored an incredible curler into the top right corner in the second half to give France the lead.

He then assisted Ousmane Dembele, another player heavily linked with Liverpool over the last few years, who scored the second, sending France into their third consecutive World Cup semi-final.