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Necessary compromise: Brighton lure German gem by offering to sign his brother as well
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 24.02.26. | 20:57
Although Malek El Mala is nowhere near as talented as his younger brother, Said, the Seagulls are reportedly ready to include him in a package deal, all to be the first to "snatch" the new wonderkid
Said El Mala may be the next big thing in German and European football. Until the current campaign, the 19-year-old was playing third-tier football for Viktoria Koln in his homeland. However, the representatives of FC Koln recognized his immense talent in time.
They signed him in July 2024, and after leaving him on loan at Viktoria for a year, they added him to their squad at the start of this season, and the youngster exploded!
In 25 appearances, El Mala scored eight goals and provided four assists, and even earned Julian Nagelsmann's call-up for the Germany national team last November, although he has yet to debut.
Naturally, his fantastic performances weren't overlooked, as the race for his signature among the bigger European clubs has started. In that race, anything can make a difference, and Brighton has reportedly come up with an intriguing way of "luring" the winger.
🚨 Reported by @timesport today, Brighton are hoping to get a deal for Cologne's 19-year-old German winger Said El Mala over the line by also signing his older brother, 20-year-old striker Malek.
— Brighton Buzz (@BrightonBuzzz) February 24, 2026
Said El Mala is an outside pick for Germany’s World Cup squad and has already… pic.twitter.com/OEQy7MRgxN
Namely, according to The Times, the Seagulls are willing to sign Said's older brother, Malek, in a package deal, even though the 20-year-old, who plays as a striker, still hasn't made it beyond the third-tier side Viktoria and Koln's reserve team, where he is currently on loan from the Bundesliga club.
Therefore, Brighton has apparently opted for a "short-term pain for long-term gain" strategy. We'll see if it will prove worthwhile.