BERLIN, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cologne has secured the long-term future of forward Said El Mala, extending the highly rated teenager's contract until 2031 and handing him the club's iconic No. 10 shirt.
The Bundesliga club announced the agreement Thursday, ending speculation over the 19-year-old's future after his breakthrough season attracted interest from elsewhere.
El Mala emerged as Cologne's leading scorer last season, finding the net 13 times in his first Bundesliga campaign while establishing himself as one of the team's most important attacking players.
The forward said conversations with coach Rene Wagner and managing director Thomas Kessler convinced him that Cologne remained the right environment for his continued development.
"Since I arrived, the club has given me a good feeling every day," El Mala said. "I feel enormous trust and great appreciation here. That is why I am staying."
El Mala will wear Cologne's No. 10 shirt, a number that had not been assigned to a player in a competitive match since Germany international Lukas Podolski left the club in 2012.
Kessler said El Mala's performances had naturally attracted attention from other clubs but that discussions with the player and his family had reinforced the belief that Cologne was the best place for his next stage of development.
"We came to the conclusion together that his potential is far from exhausted and that he has very good conditions here to take the next steps in his development," Kessler said.
El Mala joined Cologne from third-tier side Viktoria Cologne alongside his brother Malek in the summer of 2024, with both players returning to Viktoria on loan for the 2024-25 season.
After an impressive campaign in the German third division, El Mala earned selection for Germany's squad at the 2025 European Under-19 Championship, scoring four goals as the team reached the semifinals.
He then stepped into Cologne's first-team squad and enjoyed an outstanding debut season in the Bundesliga, making 34 league appearances, scoring 13 goals and adding five assists. He also played twice in the German Cup.
His performances earned him a place with Germany's under-21 team and his first call-up to the senior national side.
Kessler praised El Mala's attitude during preseason and said Cologne expects the teenager to remain a central figure in the club's plans. ■
