George Campbell may still be new to English Football when compared to many of his fellow Americans overseas, but you wouldn’t think it given his performances for West Bromwich Albion.

Campbell is past the midway point of his first season with the Baggies, playing week in and week out in the grueling EFL Championship. The former Atlanta United homegrown and CF Montreal defender has quickly become a key figure in the Baggies squad, featuring as both a centerback and right back at times in their defensive set-up. 

Despite missing some time this season due to an ankle injury, Campbell has bounced back in positive fashion, a testament to his strong work rate and growing experience as a pro player.  

“It’s been good, it’s been different,” Campbell told SBI in an interview. “Obviously moving over here, I’m enjoying the experience. Off the pitch is obviously a much different lifestyle compared to where I’ve lived before, and then on the pitch, it’s a completely different league, a different game. I just soak it all in and am trying to enjoy what I can and do my best.

“I’ve talked with a few people who played in the Championship, and they told me how difficult it is to adjust, and how different it is from MLS in general,” he added. “Just coming over and playing almost right away put me in my mindset that I am on the right path and I’m not too far off it. It’s really been about trying to keep the body going, physically staying sharp, and mentally staying in it. I’ve been playing since last January, so I think coming here when I did last summer helped me during the start of the season.”

Campbell has made 30 appearances for West Brom in all competitions, scoring two goals and adding two assists. He’s recently eclipsed the 2,000-minute plateau this season and is on the verge of setting a new career-high in single-season appearances. 

The 24-year-old has quickly adjusted to the Championship’s 46-match schedule, where clubs will play multiple three-matches-in-a-week periods, including a hectic Christmas slate that carries into the New Year’s Holiday. While players’ fitness levels are surely tested on a regular basis, Campbell admitted that positive focus and a strong mentality have been key in his time abroad to date. 

“It can be brutal,” Campbell said about the Championship’s thick-and-fast schedule. “To be honest, our squad wasn’t huge this year, so we’ve all had to do our part and play. I think it’s all about having the same level of focus off the pitch as you do on it, in terms of recovery, eating well, sleeping well, and just trying not to tell yourself you’re tired. That’s one of the biggest things is just to keep going. Even if I’m tired before a game, I think once the game starts and the whistle blows for the start of the game, all the little pains and aches go away, and you just focus on what you can be in that moment.

“I think even in MLS, there’s weeks where it can be three-games-in-a-week, multiple in a month, so I’m not too new to that sort of schedule,” he added. “It’s also been getting used to the new style of play because it can be a lot more physical with duels and all that. After matches, it can be painful with the contusions and all that, but it’s been a good, new challenge.”

Not only has Campbell been introduced to a new country, league, and club, but also to the promotion-relegation system that MLS does not have. 

West Brom are currently 21^st in the 24-club table, sitting just outside of the relegation zone by one point with 11 matches to play. The Baggies front office parted ways with former managers Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay this season, and the club is currently without a league victory since December 29. 

Campbell admitted that his introduction to a relegation fight has added pressure on him and the club but believes it can be used to springboard West Brom out of danger. 

“In MLS, there have been seasons where we’ve done horribly and during the last couple of months, some guys on the team just kind of give up and nothing will happen because we’ll be back next year anyway,” Campbell said. “Obviously there’s none of that here and we all are in the same boat, where we’re desperately trying to get out of the situation, we’re in. I think no one wants to come back here in a couple of months knowing that we’re playing in League One, so there has never been a lack of effort with this group.

“I think we need to kind of buy into the same game plan and come in with the same mindset for every game, so we give ourselves the best chance,” Campbell added. “I just think it’s about not panicking but knowing there’s pressure and dealing with it in a good way. Sometimes even at night, I’m thinking about the situation we’re in and it’s not obviously it’s not the best, but I’m confident we can get out of it.”

“It’s something that us as players need to take responsibility for and just know that no matter who’s managing the team, we need to try to stick together and play the game that’s outlined for us and try to do our best and buy into that, and that’ll give us the best chance to win,” he added. “Even in my career, I’ve had plenty of seasons where I’ve had multiple coaches unfortunately, so I know how it goes and I’ve dealt with those multiple times. As a team, we just need to focus on each game as it comes. A lot of players on this team have been in situations before where they are pushing for the playoffs. We should be nowhere near where we are right now, and we know we’re a good team and that we can be better.”

Campbell’s move to West Brom has not only allowed him to test himself at a different level but also connect with a fellow American along the way. Daryl Dike, who previously played in MLS with Orlando City, is currently in his fourth full season abroad at West Brom after joining during the 2021-22 campaign. 

The 25-year-old Dike is back playing regularly after numerous serious injuries have hampered his time abroad. Seven of his nine career goals for the Baggies came during the 2022-23 season but since then, Dike has only found the back of the net twice in 30 appearances. 

After both making their names in the MLS ranks, Campbell has enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside Dike in different chapters of their careers.

“We’ve hung out a few times and when I came in last July, it was good to have a face that I can rely on for questions and advice,” Campbell said about his friendship with Dike. “We get some jokes in the locker room from the guys about us both being from America. It’s been lucky and fortunate for me to land at a club with another American and that has helped my transition here. I am grateful for the opportunity.”

Moving to England has also provided Campbell with the opportunity to play in front of a loyal fanbase at a historic football club. West Brom has been around for 148 years and was one of the 12 founding members of the Football League back in 1888, providing a history, atmosphere, and admiration that not many clubs can replicate. 

Although results haven’t been good enough to date this season, Campbell knows a strong conclusion is what the fans want and deserve for their continuous support. 

“In the beginning of the season, we were winning a lot more and getting results, so every player probably felt the love there,” Campbell said. “This run since December has led to some frustration, which is understandable. We just haven’t won enough games and it’s as simple as that. I know how loyal they are as a fan base and that they’ll show up to each game, and I just think to receive even more love from them, we just need to play as a team. We need to just give them a spark to get us going in a home game and get us a win.

“Overall, it’s been a very good experience compared to MLS where the fans maybe are not as passionate, and games are looked at as a fun event to go to. Here it’s like your childhood team, and you live and die for the badge, so we just want to give our fans more.”

March marks 14 months since Campbell made his senior U.S. men’s national team debut, a major milestone in his career to date. Campbell started and played 88 minutes in a 3-1 January friendly victory over Venezuela, joining up with former Atlanta United teammate Miles Robinson in the heart of Mauricio Pochettino’s backline. 

It remains his only USMNT cap to date, despite Campbell’s move to a top league like the Championship, and his continued playing time abroad. However, with the FIFA World Cup only 100 days away from kicking off, Campbell cannot be officially ruled out of contention for the upcoming March window, as well as the final World Cup roster this May. 

Campbell is ready to go if Pochettino’s call comes but also has plenty of confidence in the rest of the squad, should the opportunity not present itself. 

“It was a really good experience,” Campbell said about his call-up in January 2025. “It’s crazy that it was already more than one year ago. It’s obviously hard to think about that stuff when you’re in the middle of the club season, but it would be a goal and a dream to get called up to another camp, leading into the World Cup. The staff were lovely and they’re very intense and demanding. When I went it happened during MLS preseason, so it was intense and being able to play next play next to Miles Robinson was special. I am focused on doing my best here but also trying to do whatever I can to get back there if that time comes.

“Even when I was there, they stressed to us that it’s not really about where you’re playing, but if you perform, you will get a chance,” he added. “Even if I wasn’t in the squad, I would hope that everyone there would give us the best chance of showing the world what we can do. I think Pochettino has really stressed that he’ll pick who he believes will get the job done, not just based off what they’ve done in the past. I think the pool of players is incredible and there are a lot of players to choose from. The level of competition is healthy because I think that’ll push the team to go a little further than everyone else. I think all 11 positions are up for grabs so there’s really no certainties there, which will be healthy going into the World Cup.”