Borussia Dortmund end Said El Mala pursuit after Köln reject latest bid

Borussia Dortmund have ended their pursuit of Said El Mala after 1. FC Köln rejected the club’s latest offer for the winger.

Lars Ricken has confirmed that Dortmund will not return with another proposal this summer, effectively bringing the club’s attempt to sign El Mala to an end for the current transfer window.

Dortmund had increased their offer significantly during negotiations, but Köln maintained a firm position over the player’s valuation. BILD reports that the final proposal included around €46 million guaranteed, with bonuses potentially taking the total package to between €52 million and €53 million.

The rejection leaves El Mala set to remain with Köln unless another club enters the race before the window closes.

Dortmund’s decision represents the conclusion of a pursuit that had developed over several weeks. An earlier proposal had already been turned down, forcing the Bundesliga club to return with improved financial terms in an attempt to convince Köln to sell.

Köln’s stance reflects both the player’s growing importance to the squad and his development over the past season. El Mala established himself as one of the club’s most productive attacking players, combining direct running and one-on-one ability with a stronger end product in the final third.

His performances had made him an attractive target for Dortmund as they looked to add another dynamic attacking option capable of operating from wide areas and carrying the ball at speed.

The player’s own position had also added another layer to the negotiations. El Mala had previously been linked with a move away from Köln and was reported to be open to joining Dortmund, but the two clubs were unable to find common ground over the structure and overall value of the deal.

For Dortmund, the decision to walk away now avoids allowing negotiations to continue indefinitely into the final weeks of the market. The club can instead redirect its attention toward other targets if further attacking reinforcement remains a priority.

Köln, meanwhile, retain one of their most valuable young players after rejecting a package that could have exceeded €50 million if all performance-related bonuses were reached.

Unless Dortmund reconsider their position later in the window, the latest rejection appears to have closed this transfer route for the summer.

El Mala will therefore remain part of Köln’s plans as the club prepares for the new Bundesliga season.