Said El Mala’s Journey to the DFB: Klopp's New Hope
Said El Mala’s rise has moved from local fairytale to national storyline. Now Jurgen Klopp is ready to write him into the next chapter of the DFB.
According to BILD, the 20-year-old FC Cologne forward has been named in Klopp’s expanded Germany squad for the upcoming international window, putting him on the brink of a first senior cap. If he steps onto the pitch, he will become the first Cologne player to feature for Germany since Jonas Hector in 2019.
The formal call-up letter had still not landed in Cologne’s offices by Tuesday afternoon, but the message has already reached the player: El Mala is in.
Klopp tears up the script
Klopp’s move is a clear break from what came before. The new national coach is leaning on a broader squad list for a packed autumn programme, and El Mala is one of the biggest beneficiaries.
Julian Nagelsmann had brought the youngster into the senior setup 10 months ago, but never let him get beyond the bench. El Mala was called up, then left out of the matchday squads against Luxembourg and Slovakia, and finally dropped from the World Cup roster altogether. At club level, that decision went down badly.
Under Klopp, the tone has changed. The pathway is no longer theoretical. It is there, in black and white, on an expanded squad list, with a Nations League campaign looming against the Netherlands, Greece, and Serbia.
From 3. Liga to the DFB in 16 months
The speed of El Mala’s ascent is striking. Just 16 months ago he was playing for Viktoria Köln in the 3. Liga. Now he is on the verge of representing Germany.
Last season he dragged FC Cologne to safety with 13 league goals, performances that quickly drew attention from abroad and at home. Brighton, Brentford, and Borussia Dortmund all circled in the summer, sensing an opportunity.
El Mala chose differently. He stayed. He extended his contract with Cologne until 2031, took on the legendary number 10 shirt once worn by Lukas Podolski, and promptly scored on the opening day of the season against Hoffenheim. The message was loud enough for the new national team staff to hear.
His form has not just been good; it has been decisive. Those performances have now translated into a ticket to Klopp’s Germany.
One more stop before the big stage
Before he reports for international duty, there is still work to do in Cologne colours. Having shaken off a recent cold, El Mala returned with a substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen. He is expected to be back in the starting XI for Saturday’s away trip to Hamburg.
For Cologne, his focus remains simple: goals, points, survival. For El Mala, every touch now carries an extra edge. Maintain the rhythm in Hamburg, and he walks into Klopp’s camp not as a prospect, but as a player in full flow.
From Viktoria Köln to the DFB in barely over a year, from 3. Liga grounds to a Nations League schedule featuring the Netherlands and Serbia. The only thing missing from the story now is the moment he finally pulls on that Germany shirt and hears the whistle go.
