According to Sky Sport Koln are asking for more than €35 million (£30m/$40m) for El Mala, which would be a club record fee. Despite Koln wanting to keep him, having rejected a €20m (£17m/$23m) offer from Brighton, Bayern and Dortmund are reportedly interested in signing El Mala next summer. The player is also keen on taking the number 10 shirt, which has remained vacant at Koln since Lukas Podolski left in 2012.
Signed from Viktoria Koln in the summer of 2024, El Mala was loaned back to his former team the entire season. He featured prominently in the third tier of German football throughout the campaign before returning to take on a senior role at Koln. His season started with a run of five substitute appearances in the Bundesliga – scoring his first goal against Freiburg – before he made his maiden start and scoring the decisive goal as they beat Hoffenheim 1-0 at the weekend.
The 19-year-old’s match-winning display at the weekend earned praise from Koln defender Joel Schmied, who said after the win: “I told him before the game: ‘Get into your game with simple moves. You don’t have to prove to everyone right away that you’re the ultimate dribbler’ – and then he delivers a game so quickly. My advice paid off, and he’s doing incredibly well. Now we have to make sure we keep the boy grounded. Then things will go quite well.”
There is even talk of the winger being called up to the Germany squad. “The only thing that helps you is working hard, staying humble. And then demonstrating the qualities he undoubtedly has, week after week. That’s what it will be all about,” said coach Lukas Kwasniok.
A transfer battle may unfold between Bayern and Dortmund, both vying for the signature of El Mala. For now, El Mala is focused on his 2025-26 season, aiming to get regular game time and continue his development at Koln before considering his future options.
