Mathis Albert’s Rapid Rise Continues With First Start for Borussia Dortmund

Mathis Albert’s rise at Borussia Dortmund took another step forward on Tuesday, as the 17-year-old American made his first competitive start for the club’s first team in a 5-0 victory over HEBC Hamburg in the DFB-Pokal.

Starting on the wing, Albert played the full 90 minutes, giving him his first opportunity to experience a competitive match from the opening whistle at senior level. It was another clear sign that Dortmund are increasingly willing to involve one of their most promising young players in the first-team picture.

Albert entered the summer with some first-team experience already under his belt, but his performances during Dortmund’s preparations for the 2026-27 campaign helped accelerate his momentum.

The 17-year-old featured in preseason friendlies against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and Fortuna Düsseldorf, scoring his first goal for Dortmund’s senior side in the latter. He continued to receive opportunities during Dortmund’s preseason tour, catching the attention of head coach Niko Kovač.

Albert was born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 2009 and developed through several important youth environments in the United States. His early path included Carolina Elite Soccer Academy and San Diego Surf before he joined the LA Galaxy academy.

His move to Germany came in 2024, when he joined Borussia Dortmund at just 15 years old. According to Transfermarkt, Albert has since progressed through Dortmund’s youth structure and reserves while establishing himself primarily as a left winger, with the ability to play on the right or through a more central attacking role. 

In April 2026, he made his Bundesliga debut, becoming the youngest American ever to appear in the competition at 16 years and 340 days old, surpassing the previous record held by Giovanni Reyna.

His debut came after spending much of his development inside Dortmund’s system and earning opportunities with the club’s senior setup. He was also part of Dortmund’s squad for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, making him the youngest player at the tournament. 

For a player who only turned 17 in May, the sequence is significant: preseason goal, continued first-team involvement and now a full competitive start.

Albert still has a long way to go, but his development is moving at a remarkable pace. What began with a move from the LA Galaxy academy to Germany is increasingly looking like the foundation of a genuine first-team career at one of Europe’s biggest development clubs.