Sought-after DFB professional
English club apparently offered 30 million euros
February 4, 2026 – 9:20 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
At 1. FC Köln, Saïd El Mala is the high-flying starter of the season. A club from England recently wanted to sign the DFB talent – for a hefty transfer fee.
1. FC Köln is said to have received a lucrative offer for Saïd El Mala shortly before the end of the winter transfer period. This is what “Sport Bild” reports. Accordingly, the English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion offered between 25 and 30 million euros for the 19-year-old – plus bonus payments.
The offer was said to have been discussed by the cathedral town’s management and agreed with the board. The result: Cologne initially rejected the offer from England.
According to the report, there are two reasons for FC’s rejection of Brighton. The time before the end of the winter transfer window was not an option for the club to negotiate – although it was apparently about a summer move. In addition, Cologne would find the transfer fee offered to be too low.
The poker around El Mala is now really set to begin, with further rounds of negotiations likely to take place at short notice. Brighton, which is coached by German coach Fabian Hürzeler, definitely wants the player. The “Seagulls” are said to want to complete the change quickly.
However, 1. FC Cologne has not yet set a financial pain threshold. At the club, the opportunity and risk should be weighed up. El Mala’s price would continue to rise if he continued to score reliably and perhaps even go to the World Cup in the summer. Most recently, coach Lukas Kwasniok subbed El Mala on twice for the final phase of a game. That depresses the price for the FC jewel.
A move to Brighton could be financially worthwhile for El Mala. Brighton are said to offer him a five-year contract with a fixed salary of 15 million euros and additional bonuses.
