INTERVIEW: "I needed to play a bigger role" – Cole Campbell on leaving Dortmund for Elversberg

Newly called-up USMNT player Cole Campbell has spoken in detail about his decision to leave Borussia Dortmund and join SV Elversberg for a record-breaking fee.

Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images

Four years after joining Borussia Dortmund from Icelandic side Breiðablik, Cole Campbell decided it was time to move on this summer, joining newly-promoted Bundesliga side SV Elversberg, who paid a club-record €6 million fee to sign him.

Campbell’s future with the Black and Yellows looked bright when he made his senior debut at just 18 in October 2024. Ultimately, though, his career at Dortmund never quite took off, and the now 20-year-old decided it was time for a change after making just five appearances for TSG Hoffenheim during an injury-hit loan spell in the second half of last season.

“The main thing was that I needed to get minutes for my career, to play a lot more and have a bigger role than I had at Dortmund,” Campbell said when Bulinews.com asked him about his decision to join SV Elversberg this summer during a media roundtable.

So far, Campbell has gotten the playing time he was looking for, starting all four of Elversberg’s games this season. His performances have also earned him his first call-up to the senior U.S. national team.

“The move was very important for me, and now I’m getting minutes, which is the most important thing for me to develop and become the best player I can be. I think the step in my career was the right one, and I’m happy that I came here,” said the 20-year-old, who finally scored his first Bundesliga goal in Elversberg’s opening 3-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen, two years after making his league debut for Borussia Dortmund.

“To score my first goal was an amazing feeling. It was very important for the team, and for us to win the game was amazing. It was the first game we had in the Bundesliga, so to start off with a win was amazing. It was very important for us and myself, and I'm really happy about it," Campbell said.
 

Trusting God's plan

Asked about his difficult spell of nearly two years without regular playing time, Campbell took a positive approach, saying the challenging period has strengthened both his faith and his mental toughness.

“The expectation from last season was to play more than what I did. But I’m a strong believer in Jesus, and I believe that God has a plan. I believe this time strengthened my relationship with Him and my mental toughness,” he said.

Although the frustration was difficult to deal with in the moment, Campbell held on to his faith and believes the experience ultimately helped him grow both as a person and a player.

“Things can change in six months, and I’m always trusting in the plan God has for me and not being afraid of missing it or anything like that. I think even in this time, where someone else would look at it and say it was a waste, it was something that I learned and something I could take from it. I’m thankful for this time.

“I wouldn’t have learned the things I did in these 22 months if things had happened differently. My relationship with God has gotten stronger in these two years, and my mindset has changed. I can speak about the frustration in the moment, but without this, my character wouldn’t change.

“Everything happened the way it was supposed to, and I’m thankful for the time and for the things I’ve learned along the way.”
 

In the footsteps of Woltemade and Asllani

Elversberg have become known as a club willing to give young players opportunities, with the likes of Nick Woltemade, Fisnik Asllani and Paul Wanner all taking significant development steps at the club in recent years. That naturally strengthened Elversberg’s case when Campbell was considering his next move.

“Of course they told me about this, and I also looked into it myself. Whenever you want to join a club, it's important that you learn what they’ve done in the past, which obviously influences how you feel about going there. I had a lot of conversations with the coach, the sporting director and the people around the club. They explained their plan and what the club is about," Campbell said.

"When you have other players who have gone there, gotten their minutes, developed and made a big step for themselves, it obviously helps. It had an influence on me coming here. In the end, I think it was the right step. I decided I needed to get more minutes and have a club that believes in me, that gives me the support and the backing to become the best version of myself. In the end, I’m happy that I came here.”

Being Elversberg’s record signing naturally comes with a certain amount of pressure, but Campbell also feels the necessary trust and support from everyone at the club.

“Obviously there’s pressure that comes with it, but on the other side, there’s also a lot of trust from them to believe in me and have trust in me. Since I’ve come here, I’ve felt very good. Everyone at the club is supporting each other. The pressure I put on myself to perform was already there before the money was involved," Campbell stressed, adding:

"Regardless of these things, I want to perform every game and do my best. That’s what I’ll continue doing, trying to become better in every game and training session. I think there’s pressure there, but the support I have from the club, my teammates and the coaching staff is also there, which helps me have a good feeling to perform.”

Campbell will have his next chance to find the net when Elversberg face fellow newly-promoted side Schalke 04 at the Veltins-Arena on Sunday at 17:30 CEST, before linking up with the US national team for the upcoming international break.