Klopp reveals Liverpool flew Mbappe's family on a private jet in secret bid to sign him from Monaco

Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Liverpool went to extraordinary lengths to sign Kylian Mbappe from Monaco, flying the French striker and his entire family on a private jet that circled in the air to keep the meeting hidden from public view — only for Mbappe to ultimately choose Paris Saint-Germain.

Speaking as a pundit covering the World Cup for Magenta TV, Klopp described the clandestine recruitment pitch ahead of France’s quarter-final win over Morocco. “The most expensive non-transfer we invested in,” he said. “We flew from Blackpool to Nice. In Nice, the entire Mbappe family boarded a private jet with five rooms or something.”

Klopp explained that the plane never actually went anywhere with purpose. “We really went all out. Then we flew around in a circle, talked with the family, ate good food…” When asked why the jet only circled, he was blunt: “We couldn’t be seen. We flew in a circle. It was fantastic. And then he went to Paris!”

Mbappe, now 27, was a highly coveted teenager at Monaco at the time, with Liverpool among the Premier League clubs tracking him closely. He ultimately joined PSG before later moving to Real Madrid, where he has continued to establish himself as one of the world’s most dangerous forwards.

Klopp was pictured embracing Mbappe on the pitch after the striker scored France’s opener in their 2-0 quarter-final victory, a moment that added a personal footnote to the long-standing connection between the two.

The revelation comes as Klopp edges closer to a return to management as Germany head coach. After stepping down at Liverpool at the end of last season and taking up a non-coaching role with Red Bull as Head of Global Soccer, Klopp confirmed last week that the German Football Association had approached him following Julian Nagelsmann’s departure.

“Things moved pretty quickly,” Klopp said. “Julian stepped down. The DFB are looking for a successor. And they’re talking to me. I have an existing contract with Red Bull. I’ve said many times how much I enjoy this job. As a person, I usually honour contracts. But I’ve also made it clear that I’m interested in talks with the DFB.”

Should Klopp take the Germany job, he could find himself facing Mbappe on the international stage at Euro 2028.