• Dortmund ends el mala pursuit

  Borussia Dortmund has dramatically withdrawn from the race to secure promising Cologne prospect Said El Mala. This development comes after the Bundesliga club’s significant transfer offer, reportedly valued at over €50 million, was turned down by its domestic rival.

  Dortmund officials, Lars Ricken and Ole Book, had recently submitted their final proposal to Cologne’s sporting director, Thomas Kessler. However, a complete agreement proved elusive, leading Dortmund to exit the negotiation table entirely. This marks the conclusion of one of the summer’s most prominent transfer sagas, with the player now expected to stay with his current club for the upcoming season.

• Ricken confirms complete transfer failure

  Dortmund’s managing director for sport, Lars Ricken, has publicly verified that the club will no longer pursue the young talent. He clarified the situation regarding the failed transfer definitively.

  « Said El Mala is not and will not become a Borussia Dortmund player this summer, » Ricken stated to a media outlet. « We engaged in transparent discussions with 1. FC Köln leadership recently, but they turned down our ultimate proposal. Borussia Dortmund will not put forward any further bids and will discontinue its pursuit of the player’s transfer. »

• Bonus structure proved highly problematic

  While the overall financial package presented by Dortmund was indeed substantial, the proposed deal’s intricate structure ultimately led to the collapse of negotiations. Reports indicate that Dortmund’s initial transfer fee offer was approximately €46 million.

  With the inclusion of various performance-related bonuses, the total compensation package could have reached an estimated €52 million to €53 million, slightly exceeding Cologne’s €50 million valuation. However, Cologne expressed significant dissatisfaction with the stringent conditions attached to these potential bonus payments.

  The proposed bonuses were structured over an exceptionally long timeframe and were heavily contingent on the player achieving a high number of first-team appearances, offering Cologne little in the way of concrete financial assurances.

• El mala expected to remain at cologne

  In the wake of Borussia Dortmund’s definitive withdrawal from negotiations, Said El Mala is now set to continue his immediate development at FC Cologne. The highly promising young talent will now fully concentrate on the upcoming season alongside his current teammates.

  Cologne’s resolute stance in the transfer market underscores its clear intent to dictate the terms of any significant player departure. The club successfully maintained its position regarding the precise payment structure for its €50 million valuation. Meanwhile, Dortmund’s scouting department must now shift its focus towards alternative targets if the club aims to bolster its squad before the official closure of the summer transfer window.

By Élise Ntamag — Regional policy