Klopp Reveals Liverpool's Costly Mbappé Pursuit Effort
Liverpool chartered a private jet to pursue Kylian Mbappé's signing when he was at Monaco under Jürgen Klopp, but the striker ultimately joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 instead.
Jürgen Klopp, former Liverpool manager, has revealed how the Reds attempted to sign French international striker Kylian Mbappé during his time at Monaco by chartering a private jet for negotiations. While Liverpool showed strong interest in bringing Mbappé to Anfield when Klopp was in charge, the player ultimately decided to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for €180 million. Recently, Klopp, now serving as a special commentator for the 2026 World Cup, encountered Mbappé again following France's 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarterfinals. On that occasion, Klopp disclosed the extent of Liverpool's efforts to sign the then-27-year-old star, describing the negotiation process as the club's most expensive non-transfer investment due to the private jet charter. "This was an investment that wasn't a purchase—the most expensive thing the club has ever done," Klopp explained. "Mbappé's entire family boarded a private jet with five bedrooms or something like that [traveling from Blackpool to Nice, France]. We spared no effort. We flew around and spoke with his family, had wonderful meals together." He added with a hint of regret: "We flew around—it was wonderful. And then he went to Paris."
