Wegen El-Mala-Absage BVB praised for bold transfer strategy

Wegen El-Mala-Absage BVB has been lauded for its transfer policy, with former chief scout Sven Mislintat and former Germany captain Stefan Effenberg applauding the decision to drop the Said El Mala deal. The move, which saved roughly 50 million euros, underlines sporting director Ole Book's emphasis on youth.

Said El Mala deal collapsed

During the summer, the BVB pursued Cologne forward Said El Mala, with a package reported at around 50 million euros on the table. Ultimately Dortmund chose to walk away, a move that allowed the player to extend his contract with 1. FC Köln until 2031. The decision sparked what the club’s insiders described as a “Poker” withdrawal, a term used for the aborted negotiation.

Former chief scout Sven Mislintat, now 53, praised the choice, saying, “Said El Mala was probably the first choice, but not at any price, and that distinguishes a top squad planner and sporting director, to know his plans B and it was smart to split the money.” His assessment underlined the financial prudence of the move.

Youth signings and strategic praise

Instead of the 50 million outlay, Dortmund invested in two younger attackers: Konstantinos Karetsas arrived from KRC Genk for 30 million euros, while Giannis Konstantelias was secured from Saloniki for 26 million euros. Both players fit Ole Book’s policy of targeting “young, developable” talent rather than established stars.

Mislintat called the approach “very smart, that Ole Book does what made Dortmund strong in the past: bringing in young, development‑focused players.” Former Germany captain Stefan Effenberg echoed the sentiment, stating, “That the club pulled the plug at 50 million and reoriented … that must be done first. Großes Lob an den BVB.”

On the pitch, the BVB have matched their off‑field prudence with a strong start. Under manager Niko Kovac, Dortmund collected the maximum twelve points from the opening four Bundesliga fixtures, propelling them to the top of the table. Their consistency has already seen them overtake traditional rivals in the standings.

The combination of Ole Book’s transfer blueprint and the squad’s immediate results has earned Borussia Dortmund “großes Lob” from both Mislintat and Effenberg, confirming that the club’s strategy is resonating beyond the league standings. Such affirmation reinforces the club’s belief that a measured, youth‑focused recruitment model can deliver both financial stability and on‑field success.