1. FC Köln announces that teenage forward Said El Mala is staying at the club after a summer in which he was widely expected to leave. The 19-year-old extends his contract through 2031, and Köln also assigns him the No. 10 jersey.
The move comes after speculation that El Mala could join Bundesliga rival Borussia Dortmund. According to reports, talks broke down last week when Köln requested a transfer fee of around €50 million. Despite expectations of a departure, the club and player agree on a new long-term deal, keeping him at Köln.
Across the outlets, the central points are consistent: the contract extension runs to 2031, the club publicly confirms the No. 10 shirt, and Dortmund is identified as a leading potential destination that did not materialize due to Köln’s reported valuation.
