"It's going to be amazing" – Campbell on Dortmund return

Signal Iduna Park was home for Cole Campbell for four years, but on Saturday, the American will be on the opposite side. The forward left Borussia Dortmund for newly-promoted Elversberg in the summer, where he has hit the ground running.

"I’ve had confidence in what I can do, and I am very grateful that Elversberg has put the trust in me and given me the confidence back," said Campbell in an interview with the DFL. "It’s been amazing to be here and to feel the trust and confidence that they have in me, so I am very happy to be here."

Campbell scored his first Bundesliga goal in Elversberg's opener, a surprise 3-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen. Since then, he's been moved to more of a bench role, partially due to injuries and partially to the emergence of other Elversberg attackers, like Maurice Krattenmacher.

Still, Campbell has made an impact when he's played. He scored with an acrobatic kick against Mainz to clinch a 4-1 win, taking Elversberg up to seventh in the Bundesliga. It was just his second top-flight goal.

“It was an amazing feeling for me to score a goal like this,” said Campbell. "I was very happy after the game and was also happy to have helped the team secure the win."

Campbell was only 18 when he made his debut in the Champions League, coming off the bench in front of a packed stadium against Sturm Graz. He replaced Jamie Gittens as Dortmund, then led by Nuri Şahin, snatched a dramatic 1-0 win at the death.

“At that point, it was probably one of my best feelings, and it was a dream come true to make my debut in the Champions League,” said Campbell. "To play in the Signal Iduna Park was also a different feeling, and I am really looking forward to getting to play there again this weekend. It was an amazing feeling for me.”

After four years and just seven appearances, Campbell left Dortmund in search of minutes. He joined Hoffenheim on loan last January, but injuries limited him to only five appearances. He was an unused substitute when Hoffenheim took on Dortmund in April.

That is unlikely to be the case this season. With the exception of the Augsburg match, which he missed because of an injury, Campbell has played every match this season for Elversberg. Even if he doesn't start, it's still likely he comes off the bench for a reunion with Niko Kovač's Borussia Dortmund and Signal Iduna Park.

“It’s a lot of emotions, and it will be very weird to be there and to not be in a Dortmund jersey,” said Campbell. "I am really looking forward to it, and I am very excited to see my friends and old teammates. I think it will be a special moment for me.”

International roots

Campbell debuted for the United States national team in October, coming off the bench in a 1-0 win over Canada.

The winger was also eligible for Iceland through his mother's side, initially playing there at youth level. While he's committed to the United States, Campbell takes the influence of both countries with him.

“It’s a mix of both,” said Campbell in an interview with the DFL. "I would say I take a little bit of both, but I feel more at home in the US for sure.”

Campbell was born in Houston, Texas, but his mother was part of the Iceland national team. He moved to Iceland at a young age, and when he was 15, Campbell was playing in Iceland's top flight. He stayed in the country for two years before leaving for Borussia Dortmund.

“I would say I feel more American, but I also like certain parts of Iceland, and a lot of my friends are from there,” said Campbell. “My mom, my grandma, and lots of my family are from there, so I love to go back there to visit."