The much-anticipated record-breaking transfer involving Said El Mala has reportedly fallen through, throwing 1. FC Köln’s plans into disarray.

After just one season with 1. FC Köln, Said El Mala was expected to move on this summer. However, the highly discussed record deal that was believed to be in place has now temporarily collapsed.

The transfer saga surrounding the young German talent, one of last season’s standout performers in the Bundesliga, seemed to be nearing its conclusion on Thursday. As per reports from Bild, 1. FC Köln had agreed to accept a €50 million bid from FC Brentford for the 19-year-old forward.

The proposed agreement valued El Mala at €45 million upfront, with an additional €5 million in easily achievable performance-related bonuses. The deal was also said to include a 15% sell-on clause, a contract valid until 2030, and an annual salary of €4 million.

Both clubs had set a deadline for Friday to finalise the transfer, and Brentford were confident of receiving a favourable response from the Bundesliga side. However, the player’s representatives have since shifted their stance. It is reported that El Mala’s mother has been managing discussions with the Premier League club, with Brentford allegedly offering a substantial commission to the family as part of the package. According to Sky, the family has now rejected the record-breaking move, effectively bringing the negotiations to a halt. The reason appears to be that El Mala may be waiting for an approach from a more prominent club. His future now remains, as sources describe it, “completely uncertain.”

The transfer would have made history for both sides. El Mala was set to surpass Anthony Modeste’s 2018 record sale of €29 million to TJ Quanjian, becoming 1. FC Köln’s most expensive outgoing transfer. Similarly, Brentford would have broken their own transfer record, currently held by Dango Ouattara’s €42.8 million move from AFC Bournemouth.

Meanwhile, Said El Mala has withdrawn from Borussia Dortmund’s match owing to his brother Malek.

It is still unclear whether the situation of Said’s brother, Malek El Mala, played a part in the breakdown of the transfer negotiations. The two brothers share a close bond and live together. They had both joined Köln from Viktoria Köln as part of a joint deal. However, Malek currently plays for the club’s second team in the Regionalliga West, where he scored five goals in 13 appearances last season before being sidelined for nearly six months due to a muscle injury.

Their joint career strategy had previously cost Borussia Dortmund the chance to sign Said in 2024, as the club was unwilling to include Malek in the deal. “That was the end of it for me,” Said had told 11Freunde in a joint interview. He continues to believe strongly in his brother’s potential, saying, “I am one hundred per cent sure that Malek will follow the same path.”

Said El Mala has also been at the centre of controversy regarding coach Lukas Kwasniok and his omission from Germany’s World Cup squad.

El Mala’s eye-catching debut Bundesliga season attracted interest from several top clubs besides Brentford. Bayern Munich reportedly maintained a long-term interest in the Krefeld-born striker, while Brighton & Hove Albion, managed by German coach Fabian Hürzeler, were considered frontrunners for his signature. However, Brighton were unwilling to match 1. FC Köln’s €50 million asking price, setting their own ceiling at €35 million.

El Mala emerged as Köln’s standout performer during their relegation battle, starting all 34 Bundesliga fixtures and contributing 13 goals and five assists. Yet, as the season progressed, coach Lukas Kwasniok’s handling of the young star caused frustration among fans and analysts. Despite his strong performances, the 19-year-old was often benched in crucial moments. After Kwasniok’s departure in March, El Mala posted a celebratory video alongside his strike partner Ragnar Ache.

Under new coach René Wagner, El Mala started every remaining Bundesliga match, adding three more goals to his tally. Despite his impressive form, he was ultimately left out of Germany’s World Cup squad.

“He had a very strong second half of the season and scored well,” said national coach Julian Nagelsmann during the May squad announcement. He then explained the reasoning behind leaving El Mala out: “Of course, he fits very well into Cologne’s system. The question was whether he is ready for our style of play at a different attacking level. If you look at Cologne’s heatmap, it’s often close to their own goal.”