With Borussia Dortmund set to launch their third bid for Said El Mala in the coming days, capturing or failing to sign the 1.FC Köln prodigy could have long-lasting effects for the Rhurpott club.
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Amid an ongoing transfer saga to sign one of the Bundesliga’s hottest prospects in Said El Mala, Borussia Dortmund find themselves between a rock and a hard place. Having failed with two previous bids for the 19-year-old, BVB must carefully curate the perfect third approach to get their man.
On Friday, 7 August, an offer of €45million including bonuses was submitted and quickly rejected by 1.FC Köln. With Dortmund in uncharted waters and the Cathedral City club holding out for a fee in excess of €50million, what are the implications for BVB if they fail to sign El Mala – or is it a blessing in disguise?
Record breaking
When Dortmund escaped the jaws of bankruptcy in 2005, a switch flicked in terms of transfer dealings. Signing superstars was no longer an option. Instead, sifting the market for young, high-potential and affordable talents became the norm. That model has largely continued to the present day.
As per Forbes’ list of most valuable clubs, BVB clocks in at a cool 13th-place, priced at near $2.2billion (€1.9bn). Still, the Westphalian’s record signing remains just €35million for Ousmane Dembélé in 2016 – averaging €65m less than the record spends set by teams ranked around them in 10th- to 15th-place.
Of course, this is the nature of a majority fan-owned Bundesliga club striving to compete on the global stage. There is no external investment or financial takeover. But with the transfer market inflating on a yearly basis, it begs the question of whether Dortmund need to set a new threshold to maintain their status?
Cover blown
Camouflage, a poker face, VPNs — Dortmund have often disguised themselves as a club with limited financial resources. They’ve done a good job of it too, uncovering some stars for meagre amounts in the last 20 years. However, keeping their fees below €35million is not so feasible in today’s skyrocketing market.
Having pushed the boat out to €45million with El Mala (for now), some future deals may follow a similar path. Sides willing to sell their latest prodigy to the Rhurpott giants now know they can pay top dollar. Dortmund finds itself at a crossroads whereby signing El Mala could mean paying more for stars in years to come.
This isn’t to say every arrival will suddenly exceed the half-century mark going forward. Take, for example, Daniel Svensson who joined for €6.5m as recently as May 2025 and is a vital cog in Niko Kovac’s side. Still, adaptation must come from Ole Book & Co. to know when exactly to splash out on the perfect addition.
Showing ambition
Transversely, going big and bringing the Köln sensation to the Westfalenstadion could bookmark a new signal of intent from BVB. For years, onlookers and even some fans have beaten the drum that Dortmund lacks ambition. Perhaps El Mala’s potential arrival may help the club turn that corner.
This isn’t to say that the 19-year-old will drag them to a first Meisterschale in 14 years, but rather set the tone for future campaigns. Hans Joachim Watzke often outlined the financial disparity between BVB and the superclubs. Maybe that self-fulfilling prophecy of settling for second place can be gradually banished.
Naturally, reckless spending is to be avoided at all costs, but perhaps an occasionally hefty plunge into the club’s coffers could build some psychological confidence. Furthermore, securing El Mala would also lay down a marker to others interested in poaching Dortmund’s targets down the line.
Sporting aspect
The on-field aspect is arguably even more important than the external side effects of securing or losing El Mala this summer. Despite finishing as runners-up last season, Niko Kovac’s side encountered glaring difficulties in attack, often bailed out by defensive solidity and a stroke of fortune.
Dortmund, employing a transitional system under Kovac, were crying out for a player with the technical nous and dynamic ability of El Mala. Averaging one of the league’s best rates for successful dribbles and touches in the opponents box per match, the 19-year-old could revolutionize BVB’s attack.
El Mala is no slouch against the ball either. As is a prerequisite for any player in Kovac’s system, diligence in defence is paramount. In this department, El Mala boasts an 85% duel success rate from last season. He also produces around 2 defensive contributions and 3 ball recoveries per game.