Cole Campbell: New American player trying to emulate Pulisic and Ray

Cole Campbell is a rising American football star who recently joined the US Soccer team, becoming the programme’s latest dual citizen committed to represent the United States. The ties between American football and Dortmund are already deep. Christian Pulisic was a trailblazer, the first American to make his mark at one of the biggest clubs in the sport. Joe Lehner is a close second, and despite some recent struggles, he’s had his fair share of shining moments in his first few years with the black and yellow.

Behind them, however, there is another American player ready to make a comeback. Until a few weeks ago, the Borussia Dortmund star was Cole Campbell kids Football shirt ineligible to play for Team USA, but a chance meeting with a former national team star led him to make a big move.

Now Campbell has committed to the U.S. Men’s National Team programme and has instantly become one of the high-profile prospects in American football.

Campbell was born in Houston to parents with deep football roots. His mother is American-born Icelandic international Raquel Kavarsson. His father was a pharmaceutical executive who also played at the college level. This certainly gives Campbell some starting advantage in the sport.

During his teenage years, Campbell’s family moved to Georgia and he eventually became associated with Atlanta United’s youth system. But in 2020, the Campbells moved to Iceland to care for the forward’s grandmother. Campbell spent many summers of his youth in Iceland. It’s a natural transition, both on and off the field.

He continued to grow as a player after signing for Iceland’s Femrekefe Aghafnafjall and made his first-team debut in 2021, becoming the second youngest player in league history. His rise has also seen him make the Iceland U-17 national team and play several games in 2021.

Efter blot to optrædener for klubben blev det annonceret, at Borussia Dortmund football shirt had acquired him, with a deal to bring the striker to Dortmund in the summer of 2022. Bayern Munich also pursued Campbell, but it was Dortmund legend and current youth coordinator Lars Riken who ultimately convinced him to take the black and yellow shirt, according to report.

During a brief stint with Icelandic side Breidablik before joining Dortmund, Campbell met Aaron Johansson in a Valu shirt. Johansson, like Campbell, is an American-born Icelandic international. He also juggled two countries at the same time. In 2013, Johansson made one of the most important decisions of his life, choosing to leave Iceland on a single transfer to join the US men’s national team. He later represented the USA for one year of the World Cup.

After the game, former US Men’s National Team striker Johnathon became ‘Agent Johnathon’ and he eventually became an important recruiting tool for the US Men’s National Team.

‘It’s kind of funny,’ Campbell told U.S. Soccer Now. ‘I had never met him before, but he came up to me and said, “You’re Cole, right?” I said yes. Then he told me I should consider playing for Team USA. I was surprised. He said it was a huge opportunity. It was a huge thing. If he could, he would do it again. That got me thinking.’

After he came to Borussia Dortmund kids football kits, American football started the recruitment process in earnest. He was visited by US U-19 coach Marko Mitrovic, who is now in charge of the Olympic team. From there, everything started to accelerate, culminating in Campbell recently making a one-time move and committing to play for Team USA.

‘Team USA found me and really pursued me,’ he said. ‘I felt wanted. In the end, I had to look at myself and say, ‘Iceland is great, but America is a huge opportunity. I felt like this was the best choice for me. That’s why I made this decision.’

To be sure, Campbell’s impact on Team USA was immediate. After submitting a one-time transfer request, he was called up to the US U-19 team and took part in two friendlies against England and Morocco. He quickly made his presence felt.

In the first friendly against England, Campbell scored the first goal 15 minutes into the match. He scored another goal shortly after the start of the second half and helped the team defeat the opponent 3-2. It was a very successful debut.

Campbell is also making progress at club level. He is still a member of Dortmund’s U-19 squad, but has been called up to first team training on a number of occasions. He was even included in the club’s first-team squad for a training camp in Spain during the Bundesliga winter break, which shows how high he is.

Campbell has primarily been deployed as a winger and his scoring contribution has been well documented. In 23 games for the Dortmund U19 team, Campbell played more than 1,500 minutes, scoring 3 goals and providing 9 assists. Even for a club like Dortmund, these numbers are pretty good.

As a right-footed player, Campbell is flexible and can play on either wing or more centrally in midfield when needed. Campbell’s mobility is very good and he has good skills with the ball. He is good at breaking through defenders and cutting in from the wing to seek offensive opportunities.

There are few clubs in the world that are as good at developing talent as Dortmund, especially in attack. Pulisic, Pepe Reina, Jadon Sancho, Jamie Bainnie-Gieters…and we don’t even need to mention Jude Bellingham and Erland Haaland.

Cole Campbell is a promising American football star who has joined the US Soccer team and committed to representing the USA after previously being ineligible to play for the team. He was convinced to move to the US by a former national team player and has since made a significant impact at both club and national team level. His versatility and ability to contribute to goals has made him a player to watch. With his talent and the right environment around him at Borussia Dortmund, it is expected that he will continue to grow and become a key player both nationally and internationally.