Cole Campbell: Who is the new USA international making his mark at Elversberg?
After a handful of Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund, Cole Campbell has started to make his make his mark at Elversberg since his summer move, and is now a full USA international. Find out more on the 20-year-old talent...
Data correct as of 7 October 2026
Cole Campbell
Age: 20 (born 20 February 2006)
Club: Elversberg
Position: Left/ right winger
Country: USA (one cap)
Key stats
Now at newly-promoted Bundesliga outfit Elversberg, Campbell's first steps in Germany were with Dortmund, who he joined in the summer 2022. Quickly showing his talent, he impressed for BVB's youth teams, racking up 18 goals and 19 assists across his first 52 games at U17 and U19 level.
He is a product of the Atalanta United youth academy, but made his senior debut across the Atlantic, in Iceland, aged 15. The 5'11" left-footed winger made a total of six appearances for Hafnarfjordur in 2021/22, and ranks as the Icelandic top-flight outfit's second-youngest player.
Having briefly turned out for Breiðablik and hit the ground running with Dortmund, earning a spot in the BVB senior team's 2023/24 winter training camp, Campbell marked his maiden US U19 cap with a match-winning brace against England in March 2024. In 2024/25, he made his first steps in professional football, making several appearances for Borussia Dortmund II in the 3. Liga and scoring his first goal at that level against Alemannia Aachen.
He then picked up five brief Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund, and also made his UEFA Champions League debut against Sturm Graz the following month, before playing a handful of games on loan at Hoffenheim in the second half of 2025/26. Looking to feature more regularly to aid his development, Campbell completed a permanent switch to Elversberg in the summer, scoring his first goal on his Bundesliga debut against Leverkusen. His early 2026/27 form earned him a maiden call-up to the senior USA side, for whom he won his first cap against Canada.
Watch: Campbell scores first Elversberg goal in win over Leverkusen
Plays a bit like: Leroy Sané
Campbell is a menace whether deployed on his natural left side or as an inverted winger on the opposite flank. He's quick, skilful and a taker and maker of chances, with an attacking profile comparable to former Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sané.
Did you know?
Campbell is the son of former Iceland women's team forward Rakel Karvelsson, who was born in Los Angeles and played college football for North Carolina. The Dortmund youngster represented Iceland U17 on seven occasions, before having his one-time change of affiliation request approved by world football governing body, FIFA, in the early part of 2024. In a strange twist of fate, it was an encounter with former Werder Bremen and USMNT forward Aron Jóhannsson that sowed the seed for his switch to the USA.
"It's kind of funny,” Campbell recalled of meeting Jóhannsson. "I made the switch to Breiðablik a few months before I left for Dortmund. We were playing against the team that Aron Jóhannsson played for. After the game was over, he came over to me. I had never met him before and he was like, 'you're Cole, right?' I was like, 'yeah'. Then he told me I’ve got to consider playing for the US. I was like, 'really?' And he said it's such a great opportunity. It's such a big, big thing. He said he would do it all over again if he could. It kind of got me thinking."
What they're saying
"Cole is a very young and extremely exciting player, who took huge strides in the past year. We see so much potential in him." - Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl after Campbell signed first pro contract
"Bravery for me as an offensive player is to not be afraid of going one against one and trying something instead of being scared and not trying it because of their reputation. Something we will continue to do is be brave, give 100 per cent and see what happens." - Cole Campbell on his and Elversberg's style of play
"In Cole, we've signed another highly talented player who will be a huge asset to us with his exceptional pace and one-on-one skills. We've been pursuing him for quite some time and are delighted that he's chosen to join us." - Elversberg sporting director Christian Weber
