Jürgen Klopp to Include Said El Mala in Germany's Squad

Jürgen Klopp is set to put his own stamp on Germany’s future – and Said El Mala looks like one of the first big calls.

According to Kicker, the new national team boss plans to name the 1. FC Köln winger in his maiden Germany squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, with the announcement due on Thursday. No debut yet, but the message is clear: El Mala is very much in the frame.

Julian Nagelsmann had already spotted the talent. The former Germany coach brought the then-19-year-old into the senior setup for the first time in November last year, though the youngster never got onto the pitch.

Since then, El Mala has turned promise into production.

He broke through in the Bundesliga last season, delivering 13 goals and five assists across 34 league games for Köln – standout numbers for a player still learning the top level and playing in a side fighting at the wrong end of the table.

This campaign has started in the same fearless tone. El Mala scored in Köln’s wild 3-2 opening-day win over Hoffenheim, underlining again why he is viewed as one of the most exciting attacking prospects in German football. Illness then kept him out of the 4-1 loss to Stuttgart, but he returned at the weekend, coming off the bench in the 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen.

Now comes the next step. If Klopp follows through and includes him in his first Germany squad, the question won’t be whether El Mala is ready for the stage – it will be how quickly he can make it his own.