Dortmund has dramatically withdrawn from the race to sign Cologne’s highly promising prospect, Said El Mala. This decision comes after the Bundesliga club saw a massive transfer offer, valued at over €50 million, turned down by their domestic rival.

The final proposal was presented recently to Cologne’s sporting director, Thomas Kessler, by Dortmund executives Lars Ricken and Ole Book. However, the clubs could not reach a full agreement, leading Dortmund to completely exit the negotiation table. This significant development brings an end to one of the summer’s most prominent transfer sagas. The player is now expected to remain with his current club for the upcoming season.

Dortmund’s General Manager for Sport, Lars Ricken, has publicly confirmed that the club will no longer pursue the talented youngster. He provided a clear statement regarding the aborted transfer.

“Said El Mala is not a Borussia Dortmund player and will not become one this summer,” Ricken affirmed. “We held open discussions with 1. FC Köln officials in recent days, but they rejected our final offer. Borussia Dortmund will not submit another offer and will not pursue the player’s transfer further.”

While the overall financial package was highly lucrative, the proposed deal’s structure ultimately led to the collapse of negotiations. The base 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 dissatisfied with the strict conditions attached to these potential bonuses.

The proposed bonuses were structured over a particularly long period and heavily depended on the player achieving a high number of first-team appearances, meaning Cologne lacked any genuine financial guarantees.

Following Dortmund’s definitive withdrawal from negotiations, Said El Mala will continue his immediate development at Cologne. The highly promising young talent will now fully concentrate on the upcoming season alongside his current teammates.

Cologne’s firm stance in the transfer market demonstrates its clear resolve to dictate the terms of any major departure. The club successfully held its position regarding the exact payment structure of its €50 million valuation. Meanwhile, Dortmund’s scouting department must now turn its attention to alternative targets. Club management will explore other options if they wish to strengthen their squad before the official closure of the summer transfer window.