Borussia Dortmund ends pursuit of Said El Mala amid high asking price
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 14, 2026, 2:03 PM
Last updated Aug 14, 2026

Borussia Dortmund will not be acquiring Said El Mala this summer after failing to meet FC Köln's asking price. Despite reportedly offering over €50 million, the deal could not be finalized, according to club boss Lars Ricken. Dortmund's decision marks a strategic retreat to avoid excessive spending in this transfer window. With the summer transfer deadline approaching, it remains unlikely that Köln will lower their price for El Mala, leaving Dortmund to consider other options.
- •Dortmund aimed to acquire Said El Mala this summer.
- •FC Köln's asking price proved too high for Dortmund.
- •Dortmund's offer included performance bonuses but fell short.
- •Lars Ricken confirmed the deal for El Mala is off.
- •Dortmund may redirect their focus to other transfer targets.
- 2:03 PMYahoo Sports — Borussia Dortmund Abandon Pursuit of Said El Mala
"BVB will not break the club’s transfer record this summer.
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