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Arsenal plot swoop to sign FC Koln star Said El Mala

By on January 2, 2026

Arsenal are reportedly considering making a swoop to sign FC Koln forward Said El Mala, as per TEAMtalk.

After spending time with numerous clubs during his youth career, the 19-year-old signed for the Bundesliga side ahead of last season but moved to RheinEnergieStadion last summer.

Although he has been featuring as a rotational option under Lukas Kwasniok this season, he has already shown glimpses of his high potential. In only six Bundesliga starts, he has netted six goals and notched up two assists thus far.

Now, TEAMtalk claim that, having been impressed by his impressive performances, Arsenal have registered their interest in signing him and could make a concrete approach this year.

However, purchasing the youngster won’t be straightforward for the Gunners as Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain are in this race as well.

Koln aren’t in any rush to sell him as his existing deal is set to run until 2030. However, if a big club like Arsenal eventually make a move for El Mala, it would be difficult for them to keep hold of him. They may ask around £35m if they are forced to part ways with him.

However, the report say that El Mala isn’t prioritising a move away from Koln at the moment and is looking to continue his development in the German top-flight.

El Mala to Arsenal

El Mala is a left-winger by trait, and Arsenal currently have Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli as the primary options to deploy in this position. Moreover, Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke can provide cover if needed.

However, Martinelli has struggled to showcase his qualities in the Premier League this season, while Trossard has entered his 30s. On the other hand, Jesus has struggled with fitness problems in recent years.

As a result, it appears the North London club are planning to reinforce the left flank this year. El Mala is a talented player and could become a top-class forward in the future.

However, he is still young and isn’t ready to take the next step in his career yet, as he has yet to start regularly for Koln. So, Arsenal would be better off signing a more experienced player to bolster the frontline.