Tajon Buchanan
Buchanan with Canada at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Tajon Trevor Buchanan[1]
Date of birth (1999-02-08) February 8, 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Full-back, winger
Team information
Current team
 Inter Milan
Number 17
Youth career
Brampton YSC
Mississauga Falcons
2015–2017 Real Colorado
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Syracuse Orange 33 (12)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Sigma 7 (2)
2019–2021 New England Revolution 50 (8)
2021–2024 Club Brugge 50 (4)
2021 → New England Revolution (loan) 10 (2)
2024– Inter Milan 0 (0)
International career‡
2021 Canada U23 4 (2)
2021– Canada 35 (4)
Medal record
Men's soccer
Representing  Canada
CONCACAF Nations League
Runner-up 2023
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 15, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of December 15, 2023

Tajon Trevor Buchanan (born February 8, 1999) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for Serie A club Inter Milan and the Canada national team. Known for his versatility and technical ability, he usually plays as a full-back, but can also be deployed as a wide midfielder and a winger.

Club career

Early career

Buchanan was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario and is of Jamaican descent.[2] His father died when Buchanan was seven years old.[3] He began playing soccer with Brampton Youth, when he was eight.[4] Buchanan won the 2014 IMG Cup with the Mississauga Falcons.[5] At age 15, he moved with his best friend and his best friend's father (and his former coach), Chrys Chrysanthou, to Colorado where he joined the USSDA academy Real Colorado.[3]

Buchanan spent two years playing college soccer at Syracuse University between 2017 and 2018, making 33 appearances, scoring 12 goals and tallying six assists.[6] After two years with the Orange, Buchanan left early and signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer ahead of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.[7]

In summer 2018, Buchanan played for League1 Ontario side Sigma, making seven appearances and scoring two goals.[8]

New England Revolution

On January 11, 2019, Buchanan was selected ninth overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by New England Revolution.[9] He made his professional debut on March 9, 2019, as an 81st-minute substitute during a 2–0 loss to Columbus Crew.[10] On November 24, 2020, he scored his first MLS Cup playoffs goal, scoring the second and final goal in a 2–0 win over the Philadelphia Union.

On July 3, 2021 Buchanan scored the first goal in the history of Lower.com Field, in the Revolution's 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew.[11] During the 2021 season, Buchanan's continued good form for the Revolution earned him a nomination to the MLS squad for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game in August 2021.[12]

Club Brugge

In August 2021, Buchanan signed a three-and-a half-year deal with Belgian First Division A champions Club Brugge. Buchanan was loaned back to New England Revolution for the remainder of the 2021 MLS season.[13][14] The $7m transfer fee (with a 10% sell-on clause) paid by Club Brugge was a club-record received by the Revolution for one of their players.[15] He made his debut for Brugge against Sint-Truiden on January 15, 2022.[16] Buchanan scored his first goal for Brugge on April 24 against Royal Antwerp.[17]

Inter Milan

On 5 January 2024, Buchanan officially joined Serie A club Inter Milan for a reported fee of €7 million, plus €3 million in add-ons,[18] signing a four-and-a-half year deal with the Italian club.[18][19][20] In the process, he became Inter's first ever Canadian player.[18][19]

International career

Youth

Buchanan was named to the Canadian U-23 provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on February 26, 2020.[21] A year later, he was named to the final squad for the rescheduled tournament on March 10, 2021.[22] In Canada's opening match, Buchanan scored a brace in a 2–0 victory over El Salvador.[23] He was named the 2020 Canada Soccer Youth International Player of the Year.[24]

Senior

He accepted an invite for the Canadian senior national team camp for January 2021.[25] Buchanan was called up in June 2021 for the coming World Cup qualification matches against Aruba and Suriname, and subsequently made his senior-team debut against Aruba, setting up two goals in a 7–0 victory.[26] On June 18, Buchanan was named to Canada's 60-man preliminary squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[27] On July 1 he was called up to the final 23-man squad.[28] He scored his first goal for the senior team on July 29 against Mexico in the semi-final stage of the Gold Cup, netting the equalizer in an eventual 2–1 defeat.[29] Buchanan's play at the tournament was widely praised by the region's media and at the conclusion of the competition he was named as the recipient of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup Best Young Player Award.[30]

In November 2022, Buchanan was named to Canada's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[31] In Canada's second match on November 27 against Croatia, the team scored their first ever goal at a men's World Cup, with Buchanan sending in a cross that was met by the head of Alphonso Davies and sent into the back of the net.[32]

In June 2023, Buchanan was named to the 23-man squad for Canada ahead of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.[33]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played December 10, 2023[34][35]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sigma 2018 League1 Ontario 7 2 — — — 7 2
New England Revolution 2019 MLS 10 0 1 0 — — 11 0
2020 23[b] 2 — — 5[c] 1 28 3
2021 17 6 0 0 0 0 — 17 6
Total 50 8 1 0 0 0 5 2 56 9
New England Revolution (loan) 2021 MLS 10 2 0 0 — 1 1 11 3
Club Brugge 2021–22 Belgian Pro League 14 1 1 0 — — 15 1
2022–23 24 1 2 0 6[d] 0 0 0 32 1
2023–24 12 2 0 0 8[e] 1 — 20 3
Total 50 4 3 0 14 1 0 0 67 5
Inter Milan 2023–24 Serie A 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 117 16 4 0 14 1 6 2 140 19
  1. ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup, Belgian Cup
  2. ^ Includes three appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage
  3. ^ One appearance in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage, four appearances and one goal in MLS Cup Playoffs
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

As of match played November 21, 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Canada 2021 16 3
2022 13 1
2023 6 0
Total 35 4
Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Buchanan goal.
List of international goals scored by Tajon Buchanan
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 July 29, 2021 NRG Stadium, Houston, United States  Mexico 1–1 1–2 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2 September 8, 2021 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada  El Salvador 3–0 3–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 October 13, 2021 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada  Panama 3–1 4–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 March 27, 2022 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada  Jamaica 2–0 4–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

New England Revolution

Club Brugge

Inter Milan

Canada

Individual

References

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Canada (CAN)" (PDF). FIFA. November 15, 2022. p. 6. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "The Canadian National Football Team: When Football Meets Multiculturalism".
  3. ^ a b "How Tajon Buchanan became Canada's fastest-rising star". Sportsnet.ca.
  4. ^ Tajon Buchanan at the Canadian Soccer Association
  5. ^ "Tajon Buchanan - Men's Soccer". Syracuse University. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  6. ^ "Tajon Buchanan - Men's Soccer - Syracuse University Athletics".
  7. ^ Galarcep, Ives (January 1, 2019). "MLS SuperDraft: Amaya, Buchanan to headline MLS Generation adidas class".
  8. ^ "Tajon Buchanan 2018". League1 Ontario. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "Revolution take forwards Tajon Buchanan, DeJuan Jones in MLS draft". January 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "Boxscore: New England Revolution vs. Columbus Crew SC 03/09/19 - Matchcenter". March 9, 2019.
  11. ^ "Crew open new stadium with hard-fought draw against Revolution". www.espn.com. July 3, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  12. ^ "2021 MLS All-Star Team Roster". August 4, 2021.
  13. ^ "Tajon Buchanan to Club Brugge". Club Brugge. August 24, 2021.
  14. ^ "New England Revolution transfer Tajon Buchanan to Club Brugge". New England Revolution. August 24, 2021.
  15. ^ Bogert, Tom (August 24, 2021). "Official: New England Revolution confirm Tajon Buchanan transfer to Club Brugge". www.mlssoccer.com. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  16. ^ Galindo, Peter (January 16, 2022). "Canadians Abroad Roundup: Buchanan, Corbeanu shining with new clubs". Sportsnet.
  17. ^ Bedakian, Armen (April 25, 2022). "WATCH: Tajon Buchanan scores 1st goal for Club Brugge". OneSoccer.
  18. ^ a b c Sessa, Francesco (January 5, 2024). "Adesso c'è anche l'annuncio, ufficiale Buchanan all'Inter: "È la scelta giusta, non vedo l'ora"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Tajon Buchanan is a new Inter player". www.inter.it/en. Inter Milan. January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Scianitti, Matthew (January 4, 2024). "Tajon Buchanan completes move to Inter Milan". TSN. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  21. ^ "Canada Soccer announces Provisional List for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying". Canada Soccer. February 26, 2020. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  22. ^ "CANADA SOCCER ANNOUNCES SQUAD FOR CONCACAF MEN'S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING". March 10, 2021.
  23. ^ Jacques, John (March 19, 2021). "Buchanan Brace Leads Canada To Olympic Qualifying Opener Win".
  24. ^ "Buchanan, Rose named Canada Soccer's youth players of the year". TSN. December 1, 2020.
  25. ^ Davidson, Neil (December 23, 2020). "TFC's Ayo Akinola accepts invite to Canadian national team camp". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  26. ^ "Canada beats Aruba, sets up crucial World Cup qualifier against Suriname". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  27. ^ "Davies, David highlight Canada's preliminary roster for Gold Cup". June 18, 2021.
  28. ^ "CANADA SOCCER ANNOUNCES 2021 CONCACAF GOLD CUP ROSTER". July 1, 2021.
  29. ^ "CANADA IMPRESSES IN 1:2 LOSS TO MEXICO IN CONCACAF GOLD CUP SEMIFINAL". July 30, 2021.
  30. ^ "Revolution stars Turner, Buchanan earn major 2021 Gold Cup awards". August 2, 2021.
  31. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 13, 2022). "Canada announces 26-man squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar". Canadian Premier League.
  32. ^ Catanese, Jake (November 27, 2022). "FIFA World Cup 2022 Group F Recaps: Buchanan's historic assist not enough as Canada eliminated". The Bent Musket.
  33. ^ Tierney, Mitchell (June 7, 2023). "Former CPLers Loturi, Zator called up by Canada for 2023 Concacaf Nations League Finals". Canadian Premier League.
  34. ^ Soccerway. "Tajon Buchanan profile".
  35. ^ League1 Ontario. "Tajon Buchanan profile".((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ Booth, Chuck (June 19, 2023). "USMNT vs. Canada score: USA win their second Concacaf Nations League title, Folarin Balogun scores first goal". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  37. ^ "Turner, Funes Mori named to Best XI". CONCACAF. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  38. ^ "Canada's Buchanan claims Youth Player Award". CONCACAF. August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  39. ^ "Tajon Buchanan and Jade Rose Named Canadian Youth International Players of the year". Canada Soccer. December 1, 2020.

External links

Inter Milan – current squad
Canada squads
Awards
Categories