Something inside Tajon Buchanan stirs when he talks about his passion for soccer.<\/p>\n
Typically straight-faced and taciturn, the 27-year-old winger can come across as distant upon first impression. But when he speaks about soccer \u2013 playing it, watching it, dissecting it, and living every moment of his professional career \u2013 an irrepressible youthfulness and joy shine through.<\/p>\n
As Buchanan sat at the end of his kitchen table inside his home on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, this past February, the sun shined through big glass doors. The rays filled the room as he talked about how he feels when he steps onto a field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m able to express myself,\u201d he said and his face brightened.<\/p>\n
Buchanan\u2019s face lit up even more when he spoke about his signature goal celebration: a round-off handstand into a backflip.<\/p>\n \u201cThe backflip? I started when I was a kid,\u201d Buchanan said.<\/p>\n As a child growing up in Brampton,Ont., Buchanan used to fearlessly improvise all kinds of acrobatic moves with his siblings. As his career blossomed in the Greater Toronto Area, then evolved at Syracuse University, on to Major League Soccer and eventually into Europe, his goal celebration became the one unmistakable way Buchanan could show a feeling he often chooses not to convey in words.<\/p>\n \u201c[The backflip is] me showing my love and my joy,\u201d Buchanan said.<\/p>\n As Buchanan\u2019s career skyrocketed over the last five years \u2013 from NCAA standout to MLS SuperDraft first-round pick, to MLS All-Star, to Belgium and Italian league winner and World Cup participant \u2013 nearly every major moment has been punctuated by his backflip.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see that flip in big moments. He\u2019s basically saying, \u2018I\u2019m head over heels for the game,\u2019\u201d said former youth coach and long-time friend Chrys Chrysanthou.<\/p>\n What does the world look like when Buchanan is twirling and spinning through the air?<\/p>\n \u201cA blur,\u201d he said, with a chuckle.<\/p>\n Those close to Buchanan, including Chrysanthou, say he lives his life in a constant forward momentum from one match to the next, playing the game and always pining for it whenever he\u2019s off the field. Rarely does Buchanan reflect on all he\u2019s achieved and how it\u2019s affected the wider Canadian soccer landscape.<\/p>\n He doesn\u2019t like to live in retrospect; he lives to play with the ball at his feet.<\/p>\n But in July 2024, during Canada\u2019s run in Copa America, Buchanan broke his right leg \u2013 his dominant leg that has afflicted so many defenders whenever he streaks down the right wing. It\u2019s the same right leg that won Canada a penalty against Belgium in the nation\u2019s first World Cup game in 36 years and also delivered a picture-perfect cross onto the crown of Alphonso Davies\u2019 head and into the net and history books as Canada\u2019s first goal at a men\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cHe really didn\u2019t think about the impact of what he was building,\u201d Chrysanthou said. \u201cAnd then all of the momentum and all of the hard work \u2013 love for the game \u2013 everything just stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n As Buchanan spoke about the injury, the demanding rehabilitation that followed and how it impacted his professional career, the smile disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never told anyone this before, but I truly felt like my career was finished,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Buchanan loves playing soccer for the joy of the game, but he admits playing for Canada at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was \u201ca whole different feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n He rarely watches back his setup and Davies\u2019 finish against Croatia. He doesn\u2019t have to because he lived the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember driving down the wing. I told myself just deliver a good ball into the box. And it was one of those crosses that when it leaves your foot you just know it was a goal,\u201d Buchanan said.<\/p>\n When he\u2019s shown clips of the cross-Canada reaction to Davies\u2019 goal, even in his characteristic understated way, Buchanan is taken aback: \u201cIt\u2019s like the whole country came together that day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know that I\u2019ve been around a more exciting moment in soccer in my entire life,\u201d Chrysanthou said.<\/p>\n Buchanan was widely regarded as Canada\u2019s most exciting player during the country\u2019s brief time in Qatar, and the excitement would continue when one of the giants of European football came calling.<\/p>\n After Qatar, Inter Milan, one of the most successful teams in Italian soccer, began a year-long courtship that culminated in Buchanan signing with the European giants in January 2024. Even if he doesn\u2019t readily accept plaudits for all his achievements, Buchanan realized the significance of becoming the first Canadian to play in Italy\u2019s Serie A.<\/p>\n \u201cI made it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n His family was overjoyed, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI looked at [Tajon] and I said, \u2018What you\u2019ve done is not easy,\u2019\u201d said Buchanan\u2019s older brother, Nathaniel. \u201cAnd I know he wanted to earn his spot in that team, and I think it encouraged him to work harder.\u201d<\/p>\n Buchanan made 10 appearances in his first five months in Italy, earning himself a winner\u2019s medal when Inter claimed the league title. It all set the stage for another potential head-turning performance at another international tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Copa Am\u00e9rica, I was really locked in,\u201d Buchanan said.<\/p>\n It took Buchanan time to adjust to the demands of Jesse Marsch\u2019s high-intensity system. But Buchanan appeared to be settling into the coach\u2019s plans as Canada advanced to the quarter-finals of the world\u2019s oldest continental tournament.<\/p>\n But then Canada travelled to the soccer facilities at Texas Christian University on July 2, 2024 to prepare for the match against Venezuela. Shortly after practice began an ambulance was called to the field. Buchanan collided with a teammate during a drill, fell over, and sustained a broken tibia.<\/p>\n As he lay on the ground, Buchanan didn\u2019t look at his leg. He knew it was broken. The whole moment made Buchanan\u2019s teammates emotional.<\/p>\n \u201cMy phone rings and it\u2019s actually Dayne St. Clair calling and you just hear him breathing,\u201d said Mike Senkowski, the agent for Buchanan and St. Clair. \u201c[I said], \u2018Dayne, are you okay? Is everything alright?\u2019 And [St Clair was] was trying to get the words out of his mouth: \u2018It\u2019s Tajon.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Buchanan had surgery the following day. When he finally looked at his leg after surgery, complete uneasiness came to the front of his mind. The suddenness of the injury and the realization he would be away from the field for months made Buchanan feel as if his whole career might be on the precipice. His leg was broken, and so was his spirit.<\/p>\n But in the immediate aftermath, Buchanan\u2019s wider world came into focus. No longer was he looking straight ahead down the sidelines at the next opponent to attack, instead he began seeing his Canadian teammates come toward him in support.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n So many teammates visited Buchanan in hospital. And when Buchanan arrived back at Canada\u2019s hotel following his surgery, the entire staff and team waited outside to greet him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was very important to be there for him because obviously an injury of that nature is not easy to come back [from],\u201d said Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Cr\u00e9peau, who incurred a similar injury in the 2022 MLS Cup final, which ruled him out of the World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n \u201cThe thing that stuck out to me was how much these guys love each other,\u201d Senkowski said.<\/p>\n After Jacob Shaffelburg scored Canada\u2019s opening goal of its quarter-final win over Venezuela, the winger ran over to Canada\u2019s bench grabbed Buchanan\u2019s jersey and held it high. It became one of the defining moments of Canada\u2019s time at Copa Am\u00e9rica.<\/p>\n Above the field, sitting in a box inside Dallas\u2019s AT&T Stadium, Buchanan was deeply touched.<\/p>\n \u201cIt felt like my second family was just rooting for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Buchanan recognized his rehab journey would be intensive. He told himself he would come back not just the same player, but better. He wanted to show Inter his worth. And in three months, Buchanan worked his way to full health.<\/p>\n But he didn\u2019t play right away as Inter\u2019s substantial depth meant Buchanan wasn\u2019t just fighting to get back to full fitness \u2013 he was also battling for his own spot on the team.<\/p>\n From the time he returned to the Inter bench in October 2024 to late January 2025, Buchanan made just six substitute appearances in the league and started once in the Coppa Italia.<\/p>\n Those close to him admit that, in the prime of his life and in the prime of his playing career, Buchanan\u2019s emotions are deeply tied to his playing opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he\u2019s not loving his soccer, he struggles to love life,\u201d Chrysanthou said.<\/p>\n And yet, as he faced the frustration of a lack of playing time, Buchanan opened himself up to the comfort and support of his friends, family, and his girlfriend, Valentina.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is someone I can speak to any time of day. Through the ups and downs she\u2019s obviously been there and experienced it,\u201d Buchanan said.<\/p>\n Still, Buchanan didn\u2019t play: \u201cI felt like I wasn\u2019t good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n It quickly became evident to Senkowski that Buchanan needed a new opportunity and a fresh start with a club that would immediately value the freedom and joy Buchanan plays with when given the opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember asking myself: \u2018What do I want?\u2019\u201d Buchanan said. \u201cAnd it was to play.\u201d<\/p>\n In January 2025, Buchanan would find that freedom in a place with a desire and passion for soccer much like his own.<\/p>\n *** <\/p>\n Villarreal Club de Futbol is one of European and world\u2019s football\u2019s great overachievers.<\/p>\n From a town of just over 50,000 residents on Spain\u2019s east coast, the club is nicknamed \u201cThe Yellow Submarine\u201d for its famous yellow jerseys and propensity to rise again following disappointments.<\/p>\n The clubs\u2019 ethos also mirrors the city\u2019s own story of resiliency. Years ago, economic and climate hardship forced Villarreal to move away from agriculture and crop production to ceramics. In the heart of the town, Estadio de la Cer\u00e1mica, is wrapped in hundreds of ceramic tiles – a shrine to the club and city\u2019s fortitude.<\/p>\n \u201cVillarreal brings you back to the foundations when you were in love with football,\u201d said the club\u2019s commercial director, Juan Ant\u00f3n de Salas. \u201cThe way we\u2019ve been able to come through all the way until today is by continuous improvement.<\/p>\n \u201cEndavant [a Valencian word] is the war cry. It literally means \u2018We have to keep moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n In international club play, Villarreal are renowned for punching above their weight against the giants of Spanish and European soccer.<\/p>\n After being a persistent and plucky fixture in La Liga for 25 years, Villarreal won the Europa League \u2013 the continent\u2019s second-highest honour after the Champions League \u2013 in 2021 against European soccer aristocrat Manchester United.<\/p>\n Through it all, Villarreal\u2019s enduring success has been powered by talented international players looking for second chances and new beginnings.<\/p>\n Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla, Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, Argentine attacking midfielder Juan Rom\u00e1n Riquelme and Italian-American striker Giuseppe Rossi either arrived at Villarreal after disappointments at other club or returned to the team to reinvigorate their careers. All of them are now considered legends of the club.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are like a family here,\u2019 de Salas said. \u201cWhen [the players] see they are supported, when the people are around you, a sense of belonging that\u2019s amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n In February 2025, Buchanan secured a loan move to Villarreal. He made 13 appearances on loan and capped off his initial stint with a winning goal against Barcelona in May.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me it was like a new beginning, finding my level again,\u201d Buchanan said. \u201cI felt like there was no better place than to do it here at a club that is known for helping players reach those levels and get back to their best.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI asked [Buchanan] \u2018How are things?\u2019 His comment was: \u2018They just want me to be me,\u2019\u201d Chrysanthou said. \u201cSimilar to the Canadian men\u2019s team, [Villarreal] has built a culture where they felt like they can beat anybody,\u201d<\/p>\n That loan kicked off a surging momentum inside Buchanan, again.<\/p>\n \u201cSome people forgot who I am as a player,\u201d Buchanan said. \u201cI\u2019m going to show everybody what they\u2019ve been missing. No better way to do it than playing for your country.\u201d<\/p>\n Last summer, during the Canadian Shield International tournament in Toronto, Buchanan scored against Ukraine and celebrated by doing his signature backflip. And he smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we saw the flip coming we all got kind of nervous, we hadn\u2019t seen him do it since the injury,\u201d his older brother Nathaniel said. \u201cOkay, it\u2019s game on now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ten days later, during Canada\u2019s opening match of the 2025 Gold Cup against Honduras , Buchanan scored and celebrated with a backflip, again. And he smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cTajon\u2019s a weapon. That\u2019s the best way to describe him,\u201d Marsch said.<\/p>\n On July 29, 2025, Tajon made his move to Villarreal permanent. Less than a month later, he scored a hat trick against Girona – a hat trick in La Liga – another first for a Canadian man.<\/p>\n And he celebrated with a backflip, again. And he smiled, once again.<\/p>\n \u201cMaking that move changed everything,\u201d Buchanan said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great feeling. I\u2019m back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe never gave up on that love. He never gave up on that belief that soccer can bring him joy again,\u201d Chrysanthou said.<\/p>\n Back in his home in Spain, seated at his kitchen table with the sun shining behind him, Buchanan reflected his path over the last two years, and looked ahead to this summer\u2019s home World Cup.<\/p>\n He was asked about what wearing the Canadian jersey means to him, and his excitement ahead of the biggest soccer tournament of his career. And he smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThe support from not only my teammates, but all of Canada,\u201d he said. \u201cI appreciate them so much.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Something inside Tajon Buchanan stirs when he talks about his passion for soccer. Typically straight-faced and taciturn, the 27-year-old winger<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_animmysite_disable_animation":false,"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.tsn.ca\/resizer\/v2\/3MFUOOVZXRNF4NBCQLAZZVK4ZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=30ca89f580dd07ea0d74d9c2f9c03c5c6ebe1eb5224415137b3d4c8217dede29&width=1200&height=630","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[212],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trending-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trendifyhubusa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trendifyhubusa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trendifyhubusa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trendifyhubusa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trendifyhubusa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/trendifyhubusa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33301\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trendifyhubusa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trendifyhubusa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trendifyhubusa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trendifyhubusa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.tsn.ca\/resizer\/v2\/LYFI35F7O6BP27WRJGXH3RXNCI.jpg?auth=7134505cb6c20e2b2b318c1a9f9dc55cf8a5425fd9b8116a15286b299d589137&width=800&height=450\")
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