.jpg) Campbell withCosta Rica at the2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joel Nathaniel Campbell Samuels[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1992-06-26)26 June 1992 (age 33) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | San José, Costa Rica | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Winger,Forward | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Alajuelense | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Alajuelense | ||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2009 | Saprissa | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Saprissa | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011 | →Puntarenas (loan) | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011–2018 | Arsenal | 23 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | →Lorient (loan) | 25 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | →Lorient II (loan) | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | →Betis (loan) | 28 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | →Olympiacos (loan) | 32 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2015 | →Villarreal (loan) | 16 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | →Sporting CP (loan) | 19 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | →Betis (loan) | 8 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Frosinone | 17 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | →León (loan) | 42 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2020–2023 | León | 70 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | →Monterrey (loan) | 32 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Alajuelense | 65 | (17) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | →Atlético-GO (loan) | 9 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Costa Rica U17 | 9 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Costa Rica U20 | 13 | (10) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011– | Costa Rica | 150 | (27) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:50, 3 November 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:04, 18 November 2025 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||
Joel Nathaniel Campbell Samuels (Spanish pronunciation:[ɟʝoˈelˈkambel]; born 26 June 1992)[2] is a Costa Rican professionalfootballer who plays as awinger orforward forLiga FPD clubAlajuelense and theCosta Rica national team.
Campbell joined Arsenal in 2011 and was thereafter loaned out to French sideLorient, Spanish clubReal Betis and Greek outfitOlympiacos. He made his competitive Arsenal debut as the club won the2014 FA Community Shield. He was again sent on loan toLa Liga teamVillarreal before he scored his first Arsenal goal in 2015.[3][4]
Campbell has so far earned over 140 caps for Costa Rica and was a member of the squad which won the2014 Copa Centroamericana. He was also part of the Costa Rican side which reached the last eight of the2014 FIFA World Cup, and played in the2018 and2022 editions as well. Campbell additionally helped Costa Rica get to the quarter-finals of the2015,2019,2021 and2023 CONCACAF Gold Cups, as well as the semi-finals of the2017 Gold Cup.[5][6]
Campbell's career began withSaprissa in 2009 before being sent on loan toPuntarenas in January 2011.[7]
On 28 July 2011, Costa Rican television reported that Campbell had come to an agreement withArsenal,[8] after having been discovered by club scoutDanny Karbassiyoon.[9] Campbell later said that while he had not yet signed, talks were taking place.[10] On 6 August, Costa Rican media reported that Campbell was set to sign a five-year deal with Arsenal, after rejecting moves toSevilla andFiorentina.[11] According to Campbell, he was also approached byManchester United'sAlex Ferguson, who wanted to bring him underRyan Giggs' mentorship.[12]
On 19 August 2011, Arsenal confirmed that they had signed Campbell,[13] but it was reported eight days later that he had failed to obtain a work permit to enable him to play in England. Campbell finally received that permit in July 2013.[14]
Unable to get a work permit in England, Campbell along withGilles Sunu both joined French clubLorient, with Campbell moving on loan and Sunu on a permanent transfer.[15] He made his debut for Lorient as a 79th-minute substitute forGrégory Bourillon in the 1–1 draw away toSochaux, and created the assist forInnocent Emeghara to score and earn Lorient an away point.[16] On 1 October, he scored his first goal for Lorient againstValenciennes in the 2–0 win, Campbell's right-footed shot found the bottom left hand corner of the goal.[17] On 26 October, Campbell scored his second goal for Lorient in aCoupe de la Ligue match againstMontpellier. He scored his third goal also against Montpellier in a 2–1 win which proved to be the winner.[18]
On 6 July 2012, Campbell joinedLa Liga sideReal Betis on a season-long loan.[19] He made his debut on 25 August, coming on as a substitute forSalvador Agra to play the last 20 minutes in their 2–1 home defeat toRayo Vallecano.[20]
Campbell played 28 league matches and scored two goals; his first was on 2 December, to give Betis a 3–2 away win againstDeportivo de La Coruña,[21] and his second came in the seventh minute of a 2–0 home victory againstLevante on 13 January.[22]
By summer 2013, Campbell had been granted a work permit in England but he joined Greek sideOlympiacos on another one-year loan.[23]
On 27 October 2013, Campbell starred in Olympiacos' win overOFI Crete, picking up four assists to help his side win 5–1.[24] Campbell impressed again on 10 November, scoring once and earning two assists as Olympiacos thrashedPAOK 4–0.[25]
On 25 February 2014, Campbell scored the second goal Olympiacos' 2–0 win overManchester United in thelast 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Olympiacos, however, did not proceed to the next round, after losing 3–0 in the second leg.[26]
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Arsenal managerArsène Wenger announced that Campbell would be part of his first team plans for Arsenal's2014–15 season. On 2 August 2014, Campbell scored in Arsenal's 5–1 win overBenfica in theEmirates Cup.[27] Eight days later in the2014 FA Community Shield, he replacedAaron Ramsey for the final five minutes of the 3–0 win overManchester City atWembley.[28] He made hisPremier League debut on 23 August in a 2–2 draw againstEverton atGoodison Park, coming off the bench to replaceAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the 74th minute of the match.[28]
Campbell's first Arsenal start came in the third round of theLeague Cup on 23 September, lining up in attack withAlexis Sánchez andLukas Podolski in a 1–2 home defeat againstSouthampton.[29]BBC Sport described Campbell and Podolski as "largely anonymous" during the match.[30]
During an April 2020 interview for TD Más, Campbell recalled his frustration during this time, revealing that Arsenal had declined an offer byBenfica to sign him, because "they [Arsenal] told me they needed me because Giroud was injured," but Arsenal nonetheless decided to signDanny Welbeck.[12]
On 24 January 2015,Villarreal announced the signing of Campbell on loan until the end ofthe season.[31] On 10 May, he scored his first goal for the team, the only goal in a victory over fellowValenciansElche, which secured sixth place for The Yellow Submarine inLa Liga and entry intothe following season'sUEFA Europa League.[32]
After returning from his loan at Villarreal, Campbell started his first game of the season in a 2–1 win againstTottenham Hotspur in theLeague Cup third round on 23 September 2015.[33] On 31 October, due to injuries toTheo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain,[34] Campbell made his first Premier League start for the club againstSwansea City at theLiberty Stadium, scoring his first competitive goal in a 3–0 win.[33] Having scored his first Premier League goal, Campbell scored his firstEmirates goal againstSunderland on 6 December, the first for Arsenal in a 3–1 win.[35] The sides faced at the Emirates again in theFA Cup third round on 9 January 2016, with Campbell again scoring Arsenal's first as they matched the scoreline they achieved just over a month earlier.[35]
Campbell recounted that he had lost regularity at Arsenal after a1–2 defeat to Watford. Campbell, "with tears in [his] eyes out of helplessness," askedArsène Wenger about this situation, to which Wenger replied "I noticed you were tired;" but despite Campbell's desire to play, he remained irregular during the season.[12] Frustrated, Campbell requested a new loan.
On 28 July, in the2016 MLS All-Star Game inSan Jose, California, Campbell won an early penalty when fouled byLaurent Ciman, and took it himself to open a 2–1 victory.[36] On 21 August 2016, PortuguesePrimeira Liga sideSporting CP signed Campbell on loan untilthe end of the season.[37]
Campbell joinedReal Betis on loan for a second time on 31 August 2017.[38]He went on to pick up an injury in a game againstEspanyol in late October 2017. This put him out of action for another three months. Campbell sought to make a comeback to the club's training squad in late January 2018.[39][40][41]
On 17 August 2018, Campbell signed a three-year contract withFrosinone.[42]
In January 2019, he was loaned out toLeón for 18 months after failing to score in 17 games.[43]
In 2021, Campbell was loaned out toMonterrey.
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Campbell was selected for Costa Rica's squad for the2009 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.[44] He was the team's highest scorer, although he had only two goals in total. That same year, he participated in the2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria.[45] He was named in the2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship two years later and tied for top scorer with six goals.[46][47]
Campbell was first called up to the senior team in March 2011, for friendlies withPR China andArgentina.[48] He would juggle cans on the streets of San José. Before the friendlies, he was spotted doing this by national team managerRicardo La Volpe. In announcing Campbell's inclusion in the squad, La Volpe said, "Who isMessi? Who isNeymar? Gentlemen of the press – I present to you: Campbell. I discovered him playing with cans."[49]
Campbell was called up for the2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States. In their group opener on 5 June atCowboys Stadium, he replacedMarco Ureña in the 56th minute and a quarter of an hour later volleyed a goal to conclude a 5–0 win overCuba.[50] In the quarter-finals at theMetLife Stadium, he again came on for Ureña in the second half of extra time; the game went to apenalty shootout in which Campbell netted his attempt butHonduras advanced 4–2.[51]
Campbell was part of Costa Rica's squad when they were invited to the2011 Copa América in Argentina, and started all of their games as they came third inGroup A and were eliminated. In their second group game, on 7 July at theEstadio 23 de Agosto inJujuy, he concluded a 2–0 win overBolivia after being set up byHeiner Mora, and was also fouled forWálter Flores' red card.[52]
In September 2013, Campbell became the subject of controversy when video emerged of his off-the-balldive against theUnited States'Matt Besler in a World Cup qualifying match. Besler received a yellow card and was suspended.[53] The footage generated discussion of the quality ofCONCACAF refereeing, and whether such cheating should be eligible for post-match disciplinary action. Campbell's dive was described as "pathetic", "cynical" and "disgraceful".[54][55] On 13 September, the Costa Rican media reported thatFIFA were investigating Campbell over the incident, although nothing came of the investigation.[56] On 4 October, FIFA officially reprimanded Campbell for unsporting behaviour.[57]
On 14 June 2014, Campbell scored Costa Rica's first goal in the2014 FIFA World Cup, equalising againstUruguay in an eventual 3–1 victory.[58] His pass to Marco Ureña also set up Costa Rica's third goal in the game.[58] During theround of 16, Campbell was the fourth of five Costa Rican players to successfully convert his kick in a 5–3penalty shootout victory overGreece.[59]
Campbell was again called up to Costa Rica's squad for theGold Cup of 2017.[60]
In May 2018 he was named in Costa Rica’s 23-man squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[61]
Joel Campbell is the son of Humberto Campbell and Roxana Samuels and is ofJamaican descent.[62] He is in a relationship with Maria Fernanda Cascante. He has three siblings by the names of Nekisha, Humberto and Katherine. Campbell is a devoutChristian.[63] He says that family is the second pillar in his life, with the first beingGod. Campbell also recitesPsalm 27 before every game.[64]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Saprissa | 2009–10 | Costa Rican Primera División | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2010–11 | Costa Rican Primera División | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 3 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |||||
| Puntarenas (loan) | 2010–11 | Costa Rican Primera División | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Lorient (loan) | 2011–12 | Ligue 1 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 4 | ||
| Lorient II (loan) | 2011–12 | CFA | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | ||||
| Real Betis (loan) | 2012–13 | La Liga | 28 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 33 | 2 | |||
| Olympiacos (loan) | 2013–14 | Super League Greece | 32 | 8 | 6 | 2 | — | 5[b] | 1 | — | 43 | 11 | ||
| Arsenal | 2014–15 | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 19 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | — | 30 | 4 | ||
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 23 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 4 | ||
| Villarreal (loan) | 2014–15 | La Liga | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 4[d] | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | ||
| Sporting CP (loan) | 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 19 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | — | 28 | 3 | |
| Real Betis (loan) | 2017–18 | La Liga | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | |||
| Frosinone | 2018–19 | Serie A | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||
| León (loan) | 2018–19 | Liga MX | 19 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 4 | |||
| 2019–20 | Liga MX | 23 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 23 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 42 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 44 | 5 | |||||
| León | 2020–21 | Liga MX | 38 | 2 | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | — | 39 | 2 | |||
| 2022–23 | Liga MX | 32 | 2 | – | – | 8[a] | 0 | – | 40 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 70 | 4 | — | — | 9 | 0 | — | 79 | 4 | |||||
| Monterrey (loan) | 2021–22 | Liga MX | 32 | 4 | — | — | — | 2[e] | 0 | 34 | 4 | |||
| León | 2022–23 | Liga MX | 32 | 2 | — | — | 8[a] | 0 | — | 40 | 2 | |||
| Alajuelense | 2023–24 | Liga FPD | 44 | 13 | — | — | 9[a] | 0 | 2[f] | 0 | 55 | 13 | ||
| 2024–25 | Liga FPD | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2[a] | 0 | — | 16 | 2 | |||
| 2025–26 | Liga FPD | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5[g] | 1 | 13 | 4 | ||
| Total | 65 | 17 | 1 | 1 | — | 11 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 84 | 19 | |||
| Atlético-GO (loan) | 2024 | Série A | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | ||
| Career totals | 431 | 57 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 50 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 521 | 64 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 2011 | 9 | 3 |
| 2012 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2013 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 15 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2019 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 15 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 13 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 150 | 27 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 June 2011 | Cowboys Stadium,Arlington, United States |  Cuba | 5–0 | 5–0 | 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 2 | 7 July 2011 | Estadio 23 de Agosto,Jujuy, Argentina |  Bolivia | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2011 Copa América |
| 3 | 15 November 2011 | Estadio Nacional,San José, Costa Rica |  Spain | 2–0 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 4 | 29 February 2012 | Millennium Stadium,Cardiff, Wales |  Wales | 1–0 | 1–0 | |
| 5 | 8 June 2012 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  El Salvador | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 12 June 2012 | Providence Stadium,Providence, Guyana |  Guyana | 4–0 | 4–0 | |
| 7 | 14 November 2012 | Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera,Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia | Bolivia | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 8 | 6 September 2013 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  United States | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 5 March 2014 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Paraguay | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 10 | 14 June 2014 | Estádio Castelão,Fortaleza, Brazil |  Uruguay | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup |
| 11 | 13 October 2015 | Red Bull Arena,Harrison, United States | United States | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 12 | 8 October 2016 | Krasnodar Stadium,Krasnodar, Russia |  Russia | 4–3 | 4–3 | |
| 13 | 15 November 2016 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica | United States | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 14 | 4–0 | |||||
| 15 | 3 June 2018 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Northern Ireland | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 16 | 11 October 2018 | Estadio Universitario,San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico |  Mexico | 1–0 | 2–3 | |
| 17 | 20 November 2018 | Estadio Monumental Virgen de Chapi,Arequipa, Peru |  Peru | 3–2 | 3–2 | |
| 18 | 13 November 2020 | BSFZ-Arena,Maria Enzersdorf, Austria |  Qatar | 1–1 | 1–1 | |
| 19 | 6 June 2021 | Empower Field at Mile High,Denver, United States |  Honduras | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals |
| 20 | 12 July 2021 | Exploria Stadium,Orlando, United States |  Guadeloupe | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 21 | 16 July 2021 | Exploria Stadium,Orlando, United States |  Suriname | 1–1 | 2–1 | |
| 22 | 2 February 2022 | Independence Park,Kingston, Jamaica |  Jamaica | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 23 | 27 March 2022 | Estadio Cuscatlán,San Salvador, El Salvador | El Salvador | 2–1 | 2–1 | |
| 24 | 5 June 2022 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Martinique | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 25 | 14 June 2022 | Ahmad bin Ali Stadium,Al Rayyan, Qatar |  New Zealand | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 26 | 20 June 2023 | Subaru Park,Chester, United States |  Ecuador | 1–2 | 1–3 | Friendly |
| 27 | 4 July 2023 | Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States |  Martinique | 4–1 | 6–4 | 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
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Olympiacos
Arsenal
León
Alajuelense
Costa Rica
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