Borussia Dortmund has dramatically withdrawn from the race to acquire Cologne’s highly promising talent, Said El Mala. This development comes after the Bundesliga club saw a massive transfer proposal, valued at over €50 million, turned down by its domestic competitor.

The final offer was reportedly delivered in recent days to Cologne’s sporting director, Thomas Kessler, by Dortmund executives Lars Ricken and Ole Book. However, the clubs failed to reach a complete agreement, leading Dortmund to fully abandon the negotiation table. This significant turn of events concludes one of the summer’s most prominent transfer sagas, with the player now expected to remain with his current club for the upcoming season.

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

« Said El Mala is not a Borussia Dortmund player and will not become one this summer, » Ricken confirmed. He reiterated, « We held open discussions with the leadership of 1. FC Köln in recent days, but they rejected our final proposal. Borussia Dortmund will not submit another offer and will not continue to pursue the player’s transfer. »

While the overall financial package appeared highly lucrative, it was the proposed deal’s intricate structure that ultimately led to the collapse of negotiations. The initial transfer fee put forward by Dortmund was reportedly around €46 million.

With the inclusion of various performance-related add-ons, the total package could have slightly surpassed Cologne’s €50 million valuation, potentially reaching an estimated €52 million to €53 million. However, Cologne expressed significant dissatisfaction with the stringent conditions tied to these potential bonuses.

The proposed bonus scheme was reportedly spread over an exceptionally long period and heavily relied on the player achieving a high number of first-team appearances, leaving Cologne without any concrete financial assurances.

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

Cologne’s firm stance in the transfer market clearly demonstrates its commitment to dictating the terms for any significant player departure. The club successfully maintained its position regarding the precise 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 close of the summer transfer window.