Story perspectives

Klopp Reveals Liverpool Flew Mbappé’s Family on Private Jet

7/11/2026

Summary

Klopp Courted Mbappé

Jurgen Klopp (former Liverpool manager) said Liverpool flew from Blackpool to Nice in 2017 with Kylian Mbappé (forward)’s family on a private jet to persuade the 18-year-old forward to join Anfield.
Klopp called the mission Liverpool’s most expensive non-transfer.
Mbappé later joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan in summer 2017.
He completed a €180 million permanent transfer in 2018.
Mbappé said he talked to Liverpool because his mother’s favourite club was Liverpool.

Summary

Liverpool Signs Salah

After the Mbappé pursuit collapsed, Liverpool spent £34 million to sign Mohamed Salah.
The club also signed Virgil van Dijk for £75 million and Andy Robertson for £8 million, deals threatened by a £153 million Mbappé fee.
Analysts say the £153 million fee exceeded Liverpool’s wage structure, making the offer impractical.
Environmental groups and eco-conscious fans condemned Liverpool’s 2017 private-jet use for its large carbon footprint, prompting a brief social-media backlash.

History

Historical Context

British clubs have chased ever-higher fees since Alf Common’s four-figure fee in the early 1900s, with milestones such as Bryan Robson’s £1.5 million (1981) and Alan Shearer’s £15 million (1996). On 1 July 2009 Manchester United paid Real Madrid £80 million for Cristiano Ronaldo, shattering the previous British record and ushering a new era of eight-figure deals that later eclipsed by Gareth Bale (2013) and Paul Pogba (2016).

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Klopp Courted Mbappé

Jurgen Klopp (former Liverpool manager) said Liverpool flew from Blackpool to Nice in 2017 with Kylian Mbappé (forward)’s family on a private jet to persuade the 18-year-old forward to join Anfield.
Klopp called the mission Liverpool’s most expensive non-transfer.
Mbappé later joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan in summer 2017.
He completed a €180 million permanent transfer in 2018.
Mbappé said he talked to Liverpool because his mother’s favourite club was Liverpool.

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