Kylian Mbappe has opened up about a pivotal moment in his career when his future could have taken a very different direction. Before completing his big-money transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the French forward admitted he came close to playing in the German Bundesliga.
The French star, now 26 and playing for Real Madrid, rose to prominence during the 2016/2017 season at AS Monaco. His explosive pace, dribbling skills, and clinical finishing attracted attention from Europe’s biggest clubs. While PSG eventually secured his signature, Mbappe disclosed that German clubs were among the first to seriously approach him.
According to the forward, Bayern Munich showed early interest as he broke into Monaco’s first team. Borussia Dortmund also entered discussions with his representatives, exploring the possibility of bringing the teenager to Signal Iduna Park. In addition, RB Leipzig held meetings with his agent and were reportedly keen on adding him to their growing project at the time.
Mbappe admitted he had a genuine chance of moving to Germany before his career-defining move to PSG but acknowledged that the opportunity has long passed. “I know I had a pretty good chance of moving to Germany at that time, but in the end, it didn’t happen. Now, I think it’s too late,” he said.
His eventual move to PSG turned out to be hugely successful. Over seven seasons at the Parc des Princes, he won six Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, two League Cups, and three French Super Cups. Beyond domestic dominance, Mbappe established himself as one of the most lethal forwards in world football.
Since 2024, Mbappe has been leading the attack for Real Madrid, where he has already added the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup to his trophy collection. On the international stage, his crowning achievement remains the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, alongside a UEFA Nations League title in 2021.
While the Bundesliga move never materialized, Mbappe’s admission highlights how close Europe came to seeing him develop in Germany instead of Paris. Football history could have been written differently had Bayern, Dortmund, or Leipzig succeeded in luring him away from Monaco.
