Said El Mala's Rise Under Klopp: From 3. Liga to National Team

Said El Mala’s rise shows no sign of slowing. Now it is set to run straight through the heart of the new DFB era under Jurgen Klopp.

According to BILD, the 20-year-old FC Cologne forward has been selected for Germany’s upcoming international matches, placing him on the verge of a landmark moment: he could become the first Cologne player to feature for the national team since Jonas Hector in 2019.

The formal paperwork had not yet landed in the club offices by Tuesday afternoon, but the message has already reached the player. El Mala has been told he is in Klopp’s expanded squad for the next international window, a clear signal of intent from the new national coach as he reshapes the team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Klopp rips up the old script

This is not just another call-up. It is a clear break from what came before.

Julian Nagelsmann brought El Mala into the senior setup 10 months ago, only to leave him out of the matchday squads against Luxembourg and Slovakia. The forward never got on the pitch, and when the final World Cup roster was announced, his name was missing. At Cologne, that decision went down badly.

Klopp has chosen a different route. By placing El Mala in his enlarged squad for a busy autumn Nations League schedule, the Liverpool legend is opening a door that had been slammed shut. The path to a long-awaited debut is finally visible.

Germany’s upcoming fixtures in the UEFA Nations League are anything but gentle: the Netherlands, Greece, and Serbia await. It is a demanding run, and Klopp has responded by widening his options and trusting form players like El Mala.

From 3. Liga to the national team

The scale of El Mala’s ascent is striking. Just 16 months ago, he was playing for Viktoria Köln in the 3. Liga. Now he stands on the brink of a full international cap.

His impact at FC Cologne has been decisive. Last season he effectively dragged the club to Bundesliga survival, scoring 13 goals and becoming the focal point of their attack. That return did not go unnoticed. Brighton, Brentford, and Borussia Dortmund all showed serious interest in the summer.

He could have left. He chose not to.

El Mala extended his contract with Cologne until 2031, a long-term commitment that underlined both his value to the club and his belief that he could grow there. He then took on one of the most symbolic shirts in German football: the number 10 once worn by Lukas Podolski. On the opening day of the season, he lived up to it, scoring immediately against Hoffenheim.

Those performances have clearly resonated with Klopp and his staff. His domestic form has been too strong to ignore.

One more stop before the big stage

Before he joins up with Germany, there is business to handle in Cologne colours.

El Mala has just shaken off a recent cold and returned to action with a substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to be back in the starting XI for Saturday’s away trip to Hamburg.

For a player on the verge of a defining step, that match matters. Another sharp display, another goal, and he will arrive at the national team camp not just as a prospect, but as one of the Bundesliga’s in-form forwards.

From 3. Liga to number 10 at Cologne, from transfer target to cornerstone of a new project, El Mala’s story has moved fast. Under Klopp, it might be about to accelerate again.