The revelation comes in the ZDF documentary Kapitän Kimmich, broadcast this week, in which the Germany captain and Bayern Munich midfielder speaks openly about the lowest point of his relationship with the club.
"The club's support wasn't what I'd hoped for or wanted," Kimmich told ZDF. "I had the feeling that Bayern were very open to letting me go. That doesn't help to strengthen the bond between club and player."
A conversation with sporting director Max Eberl crystallised how precarious his position had become.
"I spoke with Max Eberl. He confirmed it to me again: 'If you want to leave, then you're for sale, that's possible.' At that point, I didn't know what would have to happen for me to extend my contract. I was 95 per cent sure I wouldn't extend."
PSG moved decisively into that uncertainty.
"Paris was a club that showed me a strong commitment — a commitment I didn't even really expect," Kimmich said. "I spoke with the sporting director Luis Campos and the coach Luis Enrique. I have to say they did an excellent job and gave me the feeling that they really wanted me. Naturally, you start to think about it. That really made me think."
The financial dimension was significant.
"Paris made me an offer. The financial aspect was incredible. Really. Very, very incredible, I must say. But I didn't want that to be the deciding factor."
In the end, family considerations and a desire to remain at the club he had represented since 2015 proved stronger than PSG's pull.
"It was the right decision to extend my contract at Bayern," Kimmich said. "I have never felt as much trust as I do today."
Kimmich ultimately signed a new contract with Bayern running until 2029. He recovered from the uncertainty of 2024 to become one of Vincent Kompany's most important players, captaining the club and leading Germany into the World Cup. He will captain the national side throughout the tournament in North America.
The documentary makes plain that for a period of several months, PSG and Luis Enrique came very close to signing one of Europe's most accomplished midfielders. Bayern kept him — but it was not comfortable, and it was not guaranteed.