Borussia Dortmund abandons €50m pursuit of Said El Mala after Cologne rejects offer

Borussia Dortmund has officially ceased its efforts to sign highly sought-after talent Said El Mala. This decision comes after FC Cologne firmly rejected a substantial transfer bid exceeding €50 million. The Bundesliga powerhouse has confirmed it will not present an improved offer for the young player, as negotiations between the two clubs ultimately broke down.

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Dortmund ends pursuit of El Mala
Dortmund has dramatically withdrawn from the race to secure the signature of Cologne’s promising prospect, Said El Mala. This move follows the rejection of a colossal transfer offer, valued at over €50 million, by their domestic rival in the Bundesliga.
The final proposal was recently presented to Cologne’s sporting director, Thomas Kessler, by Dortmund’s executives Lars Ricken and Ole Book. However, a complete agreement could not be reached between the clubs, compelling Dortmund to exit the negotiation table entirely. This significant development brings an end to one of the most prominent transfer sagas of the summer. The player is now expected to remain with his current club for the upcoming season.

Ricken confirms complete transfer failure
Dortmund’s managing director of sport, Lars Ricken, has publicly confirmed that the club will no longer be pursuing the talented young player. He provided absolute clarity on the situation regarding the aborted transfer.
“Said El Mala is not a Borussia Dortmund player and will not become one this summer,” Ricken affirmed. “We engaged in open discussions with 1. FC Köln’s leadership in recent days, but they declined our final offer. Borussia Dortmund will not submit another offer and will not continue to pursue the player’s transfer.”
Bonus structure proved highly problematic
While the overall financial package was undeniably lucrative, the proposed deal’s structure ultimately led to the collapse of negotiations. The initial transfer fee offered by Dortmund was reportedly around €46 million.
With the inclusion of various performance-related bonuses, the total package would have slightly exceeded Cologne’s €50 million valuation, reaching an estimated €52 million to €53 million. However, Cologne remained completely unsatisfied with the stringent conditions attached to these potential bonuses.
The proposed bonuses were structured over a particularly extended period. Furthermore, they were heavily contingent on the player achieving a high number of first-team appearances, meaning Cologne lacked any genuine financial guarantees.

El Mala expected to remain at Cologne
Following Dortmund’s definitive withdrawal from negotiations, Said El Mala will continue his immediate development at Cologne. The highly promising young talent is now set to focus entirely on the upcoming season alongside his current teammates.
Cologne’s steadfastness in the transfer market underscores its clear resolve to dictate the terms of any major player departure. The club successfully maintained its position regarding the exact payment structure for its €50 million valuation. Meanwhile, Dortmund’s recruitment department must now pivot towards alternative targets. The club’s management will explore other options if they aim to strengthen their squad before the official closure of the summer transfer window.