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Borussia Dortmund Officially Abandons Pursuit of FC Köln Winger Said El Mala

Borussia Dortmund has officially closed the door on signing FC Köln’s 19-year-old winger Said El Mala during the current summer transfer window, following a series of rejected bids and stalled negotiations.

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The Financial Standoff: Rejected Offers

Dortmund made several aggressive attempts to secure the young talent, but the two clubs failed to reach an agreement on his valuation:

  • Initial Bid: Dortmund offered a guaranteed €26 million plus €16 million in varying add-ons. Köln rejected this, stating the guaranteed portion did not reflect the player’s true value.

  • Improved Bid: BVB returned with a massive €48 million fixed fee, plus €2 million in easily achievable bonuses, €5 million in difficult add-ons, and a sell-on clause.

  • Köln’s Stance: FC Köln firmly rejected the proposal, insisting on a minimum guaranteed fixed fee of €50 million.

Jürgen Klopp’s Unheeded Recommendation

Dortmund’s persistence was reportedly backed by Jürgen Klopp. According to Sky Sports, the German national team manager had spoken with Said El Mala, identifying him as one of the most promising wingers in the country. Klopp viewed a move to his former club, Dortmund, as the ideal next step for the player’s development and urged the BVB board to finalize the deal. However, even this high-profile recommendation was not enough to soften Köln’s stance.

Official Confirmation from Dortmund

Lars Ricken, Borussia Dortmund’s Managing Director for Sport, confirmed the definitive end of the negotiations:

“Said El Mala is not a Borussia Dortmund player, and he will not become one this summer. We had open talks with Köln over the past few days, but all our previous offers were rejected. Borussia Dortmund will not submit a new offer and will no longer pursue the player.”

What’s Next for the 19-Year-Old Prodigy?

Said El Mala, who began his career in the academies of Borussia Mönchengladbach and Meerbusch before shining at Viktoria Köln, exploded onto the scene in his debut Bundesliga season with FC Köln, contributing 18 goals in 34 matches.

While Dortmund has already begun searching for alternative attacking options, Said El Mala is preparing to continue with Köln. However, he remains on the radar of several European heavyweights, including:

  • Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig

  • Liverpool and Chelsea

  • Brighton, Brentford, and AS Roma