Bundesliga Daily Report - 2026-09-16

Elversberg winger Cole Campbell has committed his international future to the United States while pushing for a first senior call-up. The 20-year-old told reporters on Tuesday that he had switched from Iceland’s under-17 set-up in 2024 and had “no second thoughts” about the decision. Campbell joined Elversberg from Borussia Dortmund in July for a club-record €6 million fee, according to NDTVSports.com, and scored on his first Bundesliga start against former champions Bayer Leverkusen. His move has quickly become one of the early season’s most striking individual stories, with the promoted Saarland club also claiming an impressive win over Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Campbell’s emergence has added an international dimension to Elversberg’s rapid arrival in the top flight. His mother, Rakel Karvelsson, played professionally in the United States and represented Iceland, and Campbell said she remains an important training partner. He described her football knowledge and their two-touch battles as valuable parts of his development. The winger’s immediate impact has given Elversberg a high-profile attacking outlet as they face established Bundesliga opposition, while the United States now has a young player gaining experience in Germany’s top division. A senior call-up remains a target rather than a confirmed selection, but Campbell’s form has made the possibility increasingly relevant.

Felix Keidel is set to be a surprise inclusion in Jürgen Klopp’s first Germany squad, according to reports cited by dpa and Bild. The 23-year-old Elversberg player has made three Bundesliga appearances since the club’s promotion and has started every match this season, operating in midfield while also being capable of playing at right-back. Klopp is expected to name the squad on Thursday for four Nations League fixtures. The selection would represent a rapid rise for Keidel, who only made his Bundesliga debut a few weeks ago and had not previously been established in the national-team picture.

Keidel’s reported nomination fits Klopp’s stated intention to widen the competition for places after Germany’s early World Cup exit. The coach said at his presentation that players who were not expecting opportunities could receive them, and his first selection is reportedly likely to include several new faces. Keidel’s versatility could be particularly useful if captain Joshua Kimmich moves back into midfield, leaving a need on the right side of the defence. The call-up remains reported rather than formally announced, but it would underline how quickly Elversberg’s strong start has brought the club’s players into the national conversation.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas returned to team training on Wednesday, just over a week after being carried off during the 3-2 Champions League win over Villarreal. The 18-year-old passed to a team-mate before signalling distress and sitting on the pitch during the 8 September match. He was later stretchered away in tears and spent much of the following week in hospital after suspected circulatory problems. Dortmund said Karetsas had completed individual work at the start of the week before joining his team-mates for his first full group session since the incident.

Karetsas’s return was encouraging, though Dortmund have not indicated whether he will be available for Saturday’s Bundesliga fixture against Stuttgart. The club has also not specified a diagnosis, while Belgian reports have suggested dehydration may have contributed to the episode. Karetsas joined Dortmund from Genk last month for a reported $34.6 million fee and represents a significant investment in the club’s young midfield. His immediate priority is a safe return to competition, with the training step allowing Dortmund to monitor his progress rather than signalling an automatic return to the starting line-up.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Carles Martinez confirmed that Mark Flekken would start in goal for Wednesday’s Europa League opener against NK Celje. The 33-year-old will handle the club’s European matches, while Janis Blaswich is set to wait for opportunities in the DFB-Pokal. Flekken’s selection came after he conceded five goals across Leverkusen’s opening two Bundesliga away fixtures, a difficult beginning for the goalkeeper and the new coaching regime. Martinez nevertheless made clear that the European assignment belonged to Flekken, giving the experienced goalkeeper an immediate opportunity to respond on a different stage.

Martinez defended the decision as an example of backing players through mistakes rather than making an instant change. He described Flekken as a great professional and said his philosophy was to stand by players after errors. That approach places responsibility on Flekken to provide stability as Leverkusen begin their European campaign, while Blaswich remains the alternative in cup competition. The split also creates a defined structure across the schedule, although Flekken’s Bundesliga form will continue to be judged separately as Leverkusen seek greater defensive reliability in domestic matches.

Union Berlin head coach Mauro Lustrinelli said the shape of his defence would be less important than the clarity of the plan before Friday’s Bundesliga visit to Bayern Munich. Asked whether he might switch from a back four to a back five, Lustrinelli said the systems were “just numbers” and that his priority was giving the team confidence and making the match difficult for Bayern. His comments came after Union conceded 10 goals during their problematic start to the season, leaving the club facing a major test at the Allianz Arena.

The fixture will show whether Union can improve their defensive organisation without sacrificing the approach Lustrinelli has been trying to establish. The coach said he wanted a good performance regardless of the result, a realistic stance given Bayern’s status and Union’s early defensive problems. A shift in personnel or structure remains possible, but Lustrinelli’s message suggested that a change on the tactics board would not by itself solve the underlying issues. Union therefore travel with the focus on execution, confidence and limiting Bayern’s opportunities rather than on a particular formation.

Mikey Moore said he wanted to thrill Cologne supporters after making a promising start to his loan from Tottenham Hotspur. The 19-year-old forward came off the bench on his Bundesliga debut against VfB Stuttgart and created Cologne’s only goal in defeat. He then made his first start in the home draw with Werder Bremen, giving him an early opportunity to experience the atmosphere at the Billy Goats. Moore told Cologne’s official website that he wanted fans to leave matches feeling he had given everything and enjoyed watching him play.

The move to Germany is Moore’s latest step after progressing through Tottenham’s academy, making his senior debut at 16 and spending last season on loan at Rangers. He made 47 competitive appearances in Scotland, scoring seven goals and providing four assists, and now faces the different demands of a Bundesliga campaign. His early involvement has given Cologne an energetic attacking option, while the loan offers Moore regular exposure to senior football. The immediate objective is to build on his creative debut contribution and establish a consistent starting role.