Borussia Dortmund has definitively ceased its pursuit of highly-rated talent Said El Mala, following FC Cologne’s outright rejection of a substantial transfer bid exceeding €50 million. The Bundesliga powerhouse confirms it will not present a revised offer, as discussions between the two clubs have concluded without an agreement.
Dortmund ends pursuit of El Mala
Borussia Dortmund has dramatically withdrawn from the intense competition to secure the signature of Cologne’s exceptionally promising prospect, Said El Mala. This development follows the Bundesliga club’s significant offer, valued at over €50 million, being firmly turned down by their domestic rival.
The ultimate proposal was recently conveyed to Cologne’s sporting director, Thomas Kessler, by Dortmund’s executives, Lars Ricken and Ole Book. However, a comprehensive agreement proved elusive, leading Borussia Dortmund to entirely exit the negotiation table. This pivotal turn of events brings an end to one of the summer’s most prominent transfer sagas, with the young player now expected to continue with his current club for the upcoming season.
Ricken confirms complete transfer failure
Lars Ricken, Borussia Dortmund’s Managing Director of Sport, has publicly affirmed that the club will no longer be chasing the gifted young player. Ricken provided a definitive statement, elucidating the situation surrounding the collapsed transfer.
“Said El Mala is not a Borussia Dortmund player and will not join us this summer,” Ricken stated. “We engaged in transparent discussions with 1. FC Köln’s leadership over the past few days, but our final offer was declined. Borussia Dortmund will not put forward any further bids and will not continue to pursue this transfer.”
Bonus structure proves highly problematic
Despite the overall financial package appearing highly attractive, the intricate structure of the proposed deal ultimately led to the breakdown of negotiations. According to information, Borussia Dortmund’s initial transfer fee offer stood at approximately €46 million.
With the inclusion of various performance-related bonuses, the total compensation package would have slightly surpassed Cologne’s €50 million valuation, reaching an estimated €52 million to €53 million. However, FC Cologne expressed profound dissatisfaction with the stringent conditions attached to these potential bonus payments.
The proposed bonuses were reportedly spread over a considerably extended period and were heavily contingent on the player achieving a significant number of first-team appearances, thereby providing Cologne with insufficient immediate financial assurances.
El Mala expected to remain at Cologne
With Borussia Dortmund’s definitive withdrawal from discussions, Said El Mala is now poised to continue his immediate development at FC Cologne. The highly promising young talent will redirect his full attention towards 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, Borussia Dortmund’s recruitment department must now pivot towards identifying alternative targets if they intend to bolster their squad before the official closure of the summer transfer window.
