Said El Mala rejects Brentford £50m transfer deal

Said El Mala has rejected a £50m transfer move to Brentford. The 1. FC Köln midfielder opted against joining the Premier League club. Brentford confirmed no agreement was reached with 1. FC Köln. El Mala, 22, emerged as a key player for 1. FC Köln last season. He made 35 appearances across all competitions. Köln finished 10th in the Bundesliga last term. The Premier League club had tabled a £50m bid for El Mala. 1. FC Köln rejected the offer outright. No further bids have been reported. El Mala’s contract with 1. FC Köln runs until 2027. Brentford’s move came after interest from multiple Premier League sides. Other clubs did not table comparable offers. El Mala remains at 1. FC Köln pending contract discussions. The club aims to strengthen its squad before the transfer window closes. No new transfer activity has been confirmed.