American international Cole Campbell scored one of the most spectacular goals of the Bundesliga season on Friday evening, adding the finishing touches to SV Elversberg's emphatic 4-1 victory over Mainz 05 . Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone afterward, the former Borussia Dortmund youngster reflected on his achievement and the prospect of returning to his former club next weekend.
Campbell entered Friday's encounter as a substitute before producing a remarkable finish in second-half injury time. Having helped initiate an attacking move, the 20-year-old received the ball back from fellow substitute Nicolas Mickelson and finished with an acrobatic effort to give Vincent Wagner's side a 4-0 lead.
The goal capped an impressive evening for newly promoted Elversberg, who had effectively settled the match before halftime through goals from Felix Keidel, Francis Onyeka, and Maurice Krattenmacher. Mainz subsequently pulled a goal back through Benedict Hollerbach, but the result was never seriously in doubt.
For Campbell, the moment represented another milestone in a career that has already taken him from Borussia Dortmund to Hoffenheim and, ultimately, Elversberg. The American recalled attempting similarly spectacular finishes during his childhood.
"I think I scored a few of these goals back when I was ten years old," Campbell said. "But it's good to score again now, ten years later."
Campbell's development at Elversberg has already attracted considerable attention. As Get German Football News reported following a Bundesliga media roundtable in September , the American spoke extensively about finding his feet at his new club following a difficult period in Dortmund.
His return to regular Bundesliga football has also coincided with a significant development in his international career. Campbell made his senior United States national team debut earlier this month, adding another achievement to an increasingly eventful year.
Next Saturday's Bundesliga fixture offers Campbell an unusual opportunity. Elversberg travel to Borussia Dortmund, where the attacker spent much of his formative professional career before completing a permanent transfer to the Saarland club this summer.
"Yeah, a lot of emotions for me next week, especially playing against my old club," Campbell told reporters. "I think it will be like a game that I've never had before, a different feeling than everything I'm used to. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to it, and we will see what happens."
Campbell joined Dortmund in 2022 and progressed through the club's youth ranks before making his senior Bundesliga debut during the 2024/25 season.
His subsequent pathway to regular senior football proved more complicated. Following limited first-team opportunities, Campbell joined Hoffenheim on loan in January 2026 before completing a permanent move to Elversberg during the summer .
The move provided an opportunity for more consistent Bundesliga involvement, although Campbell retains considerable affection for his former teammates.
"I would say to see my old teammates, some of my old friends," Campbell replied when asked what he was most looking forward to about returning to Dortmund. "I'm friends with a lot of the guys on the team, I would say. I'm good with everyone, but close with some other people. But it will be good to go back there, but obviously a different feeling going there in another jersey."
Campbell was also asked whether he hoped to demonstrate to Dortmund that they had underestimated his abilities. The winger declined to frame the occasion as an opportunity for personal vindication, instead emphasizing his own development and desire to improve.
"I mean, for me, I'm not really focused on what other people think of me," Campbell explained. "I think I'm just trying to do it for myself, to play the best football that I can and to improve as a player." "I'm not really focused on what other people are thinking of me. Only God's opinion matters to me, so I will do my best on the pitch and then we will see what happens."
The comments reflect a player approaching an important reunion without attaching undue significance to the circumstances of his departure.
Elversberg's impressive start to their maiden Bundesliga campaign has already demonstrated that their young squad can compete with established top-flight opponents. Friday's victory provided another example, with Campbell contributing a moment of individual brilliance from the bench.
Next Saturday's trip to Dortmund promises to carry a different emotional weight for the American. Whether or not Campbell will feature in Wagner's starting XI remains to be seen. After starting Elversberg's first five league fixtures, Campbell has ceded his starting spot to Tom Zimmerschied, Maurice Krattenmacher, and Lukas Petkov in the last three league games.
With the exception of the matchday six encounter against Augsburg, however, Campbell has appeared in all SVE matches across all competitions. The now once-capped USMNT international also started in Tuesday's Pokal loss and was Wagner's most active starter. Campbell produced four shots and assisted on three efforts in the defeat.
