Tajon Buchanan Explained

Tajon Buchanan
Fullname:Tajon Trevor Buchanan[1]
Birth Date:8 February 1999
Birth Place:Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Height:1.83 m
Position:Full-back, wide midfielder, winger
Currentclub:Inter Milan
Clubnumber:17
Youthclubs1:Brampton YSC
Youthclubs2:Mississauga Falcons
Youthyears3:2015–2017
Youthclubs3:Real Colorado
Collegeyears1:2017–2018
College1:Syracuse Orange
Collegecaps1:33
Collegegoals1:12
Years1:2018
Clubs1:Sigma FC
Caps1:7
Goals1:2
Years2:2019–2021
Clubs2:New England Revolution
Caps2:50
Goals2:8
Years3:2021–2024
Clubs3:Club Brugge
Caps3:50
Goals3:4
Years4:2021
Clubs4:New England Revolution (loan)
Caps4:10
Goals4:2
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:Inter Milan
Caps5:10
Goals5:1
Nationalyears1:2021
Nationalteam1:Canada U23
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2021–
Nationalteam2:Canada
Nationalcaps2:41
Nationalgoals2:4
Club-Update:May 26, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:June 30, 2024

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 speed and technical ability, he usually plays as a wide midfielder, but can also be deployed as a full-back 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. Buchanan won the 2014 IMG Cup with the Mississauga Falcons.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

In summer 2018, Buchanan played for League1 Ontario side Sigma FC, making seven appearances and scoring two goals.[7]

New England Revolution

On January 11, 2019, Buchanan was selected ninth overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by New England Revolution.[8] He made his professional debut on March 9, 2019, as an 81st-minute substitute during a 2–0 loss to Columbus Crew.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12] [13] The $7 million 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.[14] He made his debut for Brugge against Sint-Truiden on January 15, 2022.[15] Buchanan scored his first goal for Brugge on April 24 against Royal Antwerp.[16]

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,[17] signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Italian club.[18] [19] In the process, he became Serie A's first ever Canadian player. Buchanan made his debut for his new club on February 16, as a substitute for Alessandro Bastoni in a 4-0 victory over Salernitana.[20] On 10 May 2024, Buchanan scored his first goal for Inter, scoring the third goal in a 5–0 victory against Frosinone.[21]

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.[22] A year later, he was named to the final squad for the rescheduled tournament on March 10, 2021.[23] In Canada's opening match, Buchanan scored a brace in a 2–0 victory over El Salvador.[24] He was named the 2020 Canada Soccer Youth International Player of the Year.[25]

Senior

He accepted an invite for the Canadian senior national team camp for January 2021.[26] 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.[27] On June 18, Buchanan was named to Canada's 60-man preliminary squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[28] On July 1 he was called up to the final 23-man squad.[29] 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.[30] 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.[31]

In November 2022, Buchanan was named to Canada's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[32] 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.[33]

In June 2023, Buchanan was named to the 23-man squad for Canada ahead of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.[34] In June 2024, Buchanan was named to the Canadian squad for the 2024 Copa América.[35] After Canada advanced to the knockout phase, Buchanan would suffer a broken tibia while training for the quarterfinal match against Venezuela, and would undergo surgery to repair the fracture.[36]

Career statistics

Club

[37] [38]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sigma2018League1 Ontario7272
New England Revolution2019MLS10010110
202023251283
2021278000011289
Total60101000626712
Club Brugge2021–22Belgian Pro League14110151
2022–23241206000321
2023–241220081203
Total5043014100675
Inter Milan2023–24Serie A10100101
Career total12717401416215120

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Canada2021163
2022131
202360
202460
Total414

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.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1NRG Stadium, Houston, United States1–11–22021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2BMO Field, Toronto, Canada3–03–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3BMO Field, Toronto, Canada3–14–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4BMO Field, Toronto, Canada2–04–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

New England Revolution

Club Brugge

Inter Milan

2023–24

Canada

Individual

2021

2020[42]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Canada (CAN) . . 6 . November 15, 2022 . November 15, 2022.
  2. Web site: The Canadian National Football Team: When Football Meets Multiculturalism.
  3. Web site: How Tajon Buchanan became Canada's fastest-rising star. Sportsnet.ca.
  4. Web site: Tajon Buchanan - Men's Soccer . Syracuse University . May 27, 2019.
  5. Web site: Tajon Buchanan - Men's Soccer - Syracuse University Athletics.
  6. Web site: MLS SuperDraft: Amaya, Buchanan to headline MLS Generation adidas class. Ives. Galarcep. January 1, 2019.
  7. Web site: Tajon Buchanan 2018 . League1 Ontario . May 27, 2019.
  8. Web site: Revolution take forwards Tajon Buchanan, DeJuan Jones in MLS draft. January 11, 2019.
  9. Web site: Boxscore: New England Revolution vs. Columbus Crew SC 03/09/19 - Matchcenter. March 9, 2019.
  10. Web site: Crew open new stadium with hard-fought draw against Revolution . August 5, 2023 . July 3, 2021 . www.espn.com.
  11. Web site: 2021 MLS All-Star Team Roster. August 4, 2021.
  12. Web site: August 24, 2021 . Tajon Buchanan to Club Brugge . Club Brugge.
  13. Web site: August 24, 2021 . New England Revolution transfer Tajon Buchanan to Club Brugge . New England Revolution.
  14. Web site: Bogert, Tom . August 24, 2021 . Official: New England Revolution confirm Tajon Buchanan transfer to Club Brugge . August 5, 2021 . www.mlssoccer.com.
  15. Web site: Galindo . Peter . January 16, 2022 . Canadians Abroad Roundup: Buchanan, Corbeanu shining with new clubs . Sportsnet.
  16. Web site: Bedakian . Armen . April 25, 2022 . WATCH: Tajon Buchanan scores 1st goal for Club Brugge . OneSoccer.
  17. Web site: Sessa . Francesco . January 5, 2024 . Adesso c'è anche l'annuncio, ufficiale Buchanan all'Inter: "È la scelta giusta, non vedo l'ora" . January 6, 2024 . . it-IT.
  18. Web site: 5 January 2024 . Tajon Buchanan is a new Inter player . 5 January 2024 . www.inter.it/en . Inter Milan . English.
  19. Web site: Scianitti . Matthew . 4 January 2024 . Tajon Buchanan completes move to Inter Milan . 5 January 2024 . TSN.
  20. Web site: Canada's Tajon Buchanan makes Inter Milan debut, becomes first CanMNT star to play in Serie A. Tom. Nightingale. February 16, 2024. Canadian Soccer Daily.
  21. Web site: WATCH: CanMNT star Tajon Buchanan scores first goal for Inter Milan. Brendan. Dunlop. May 10, 2024. Canadian Soccer Daily.
  22. Web site: Canada Soccer announces Provisional List for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying . Canada Soccer . February 26, 2020 . February 26, 2020 . March 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200309191149/https://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-soccer-announces-provisional-list-for-concacaf-men-s-olympic-qualifying-p162594-preview-1 . dead .
  23. Web site: CANADA SOCCER ANNOUNCES SQUAD FOR CONCACAF MEN'S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING. March 10, 2021.
  24. Web site: Buchanan Brace Leads Canada To Olympic Qualifying Opener Win. John. Jacques. March 19, 2021.
  25. Web site: Buchanan, Rose named Canada Soccer's youth players of the year. December 1, 2020. TSN.
  26. Web site: TFC's Ayo Akinola accepts invite to Canadian national team camp. December 23, 2020. Neil. Davidson. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  27. Web site: Canada beats Aruba, sets up crucial World Cup qualifier against Suriname . Sportsnet . June 5, 2021.
  28. Web site: Davies, David highlight Canada's preliminary roster for Gold Cup. June 18, 2021.
  29. Web site: CANADA SOCCER ANNOUNCES 2021 CONCACAF GOLD CUP ROSTER. July 1, 2021.
  30. Web site: CANADA IMPRESSES IN 1:2 LOSS TO MEXICO IN CONCACAF GOLD CUP SEMIFINAL. July 30, 2021.
  31. Web site: Revolution stars Turner, Buchanan earn major 2021 Gold Cup awards. August 2, 2021.
  32. Web site: Canada announces 26-man squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. November 13, 2022. Canadian Premier League. Charlie. O'Connor-Clarke.
  33. Web site: FIFA World Cup 2022 Group F Recaps: Buchanan's historic assist not enough as Canada eliminated. November 27, 2022. The Bent Musket. Jake. Catanese.
  34. Web site: Former CPLers Loturi, Zator called up by Canada for 2023 Concacaf Nations League Finals. June 7, 2023. Mitchell. Tierney. Canadian Premier League.
  35. Web site: CANMNT ANNOUNCE 2024 COPA AMÉRICA ROSTER. June 15, 2024. Canadian Soccer Association.
  36. Web site: Canada's Buchanan suffers broken tibia, will have surgery on Wednesday. TSN. July 2, 2024.
  37. Web site: Tajon Buchanan profile. Soccerway.
  38. Web site: Tajon Buchanan profile. League1 Ontario.
  39. News: USMNT vs. Canada score: USA win their second Concacaf Nations League title, Folarin Balogun scores first goal. CBS Sports. Chuck. Booth. June 19, 2023. June 20, 2023.
  40. Web site: August 3, 2021. Turner, Funes Mori named to Best XI. August 3, 2021. CONCACAF.
  41. Web site: August 2, 2021. Canada's Buchanan claims Youth Player Award. August 2, 2021. CONCACAF.
  42. News: December 1, 2020. Tajon Buchanan and Jade Rose Named Canadian Youth International Players of the year. Canada Soccer.