Silver medalist with Bulgaria from the World Championship in Manila, Damyan Kolev is close to his first serious transfer abroad.VolleyWeek.bglearned that the libero will continue his career at the German SWD Powervolleys Düren.
The young national player's name is already associated with the Bundesliga team building a new project for the 2026/2027 season, and in Germany, the club is already preparing a large-scale squad reconstruction.
SWD Powervolleys Düren is among the most stable and traditional clubs in German volleyball. The team almost invariably plays in the Bundesliga playoffs, and in recent years has established itself as a team that works excellently with young athletes and foreign talents.
The project is headed by Belgian specialist Christophe Achten, whose contract runs until 2029. It is under his leadership that Düren is beginning a serious squad renewal for 2026/27.
One of the most interesting details about Damyan Kolev's future transfer is the competition for the libero position. American Troy Gooch remains in Düren – a name already well-established in the Bundesliga. Gooch is an NCAA champion with UCLA, Finnish champion with Hurrikaani Loimaa, and one of the strongest defensive players in the German league in recent seasons.

This means Kolev will not arrive simply as a reserve option, but rather as part of a long-term project. In German volleyball, it is common practice for teams to work with two equally capable liberos, especially when aiming for a longer season and participation in more tournaments.
For the Bulgarian national player, this seems like an excellent next step in his career.

photos:swd-powervolleys.deand Nikolay Varadinov