T.J. Tahid

T.J. Tahid

Tahid with Vancouver FC in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Taryck Jordan Tahid [1]
Date of birth	(2007-04-21) April 21, 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth	Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Vancouver FC
Number	26
Youth career
	New Westminster Africa United FC
	Albion FC
2018–2022	VanCity Pro Football Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–	Vancouver FC	20	(3)
International career‡
2023–	Canada U17	6	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 16, 2023

Taryck Jordan "T.J." Tahid (born April 21, 2007) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League. He is the youngest player to ever play in a Canadian Premier League match, as also the youngest goalscorer in league history.

Early life

Tahid was born in Maple Ridge, British Columbia and was raised in a Ghanaian-Canadian family. ^[2] He began playing youth soccer at age three with New Westminster Africa United FC, ^{[3] [4]} later joining Albion FC, in his hometown of Maple Ridge, British Columbia. ^[5] In 2018, he joined the VanCity Pro Football Academy, which was founded by his father. ^[6] He has also trialed with the academies of Spanish club Villarreal, Danish club FC Midtjylland and American club New York Red Bulls. ^{[7] [8]} He also trained with men's amateur teams from the Vancouver Metro Soccer League. ^[9] In 2019, during a trip to Ghana with his family, he trained with local club Yelzoli FC. ^[10]

In his youth, he also ran track and field, setting the 100m and 200m records for Grade 5 boys at the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district elementary track and field championships in 2018. ^[11] He currently attends Maple Ridge Secondary School. ^[12]

Club career

After trialing with the club during pre-season, on May 6, 2023, Tahid signed a full professional contract with Vancouver FC of the Canadian Premier League, becoming (at the time) the youngest player to ever sign a Canadian Premier League standard contract at the age of 16 years and 16 days. ^{[13] [14]} He made his professional debut the next day, in a substitute appearance against Cavalry FC, becoming the youngest player to appear in a CPL match at the age of 16 years and 17 days. ^[15] He scored his first professional goal on June 2 against Pacific FC, becoming the league's youngest ever goal scorer, ^[16] and was subsequently named to the CPL Team of the Week for the first time, becoming the youngest player to receive a TOTW nomination. ^[17] He finished his first professional season with three goals in 20 appearances, including six starts. ^{[18] [19] [20]} In January 2024, Tahid went on trial with the academy of Dutch club Feyenoord. ^{[21] [22]}

International career

Tahid is eligible to represent Canada and Ghana at international level. ^[23] In September 2023, he was called up to the Canada U17 team for the first time, ahead of a pair of friendlies against Brazil. ^{[24] [25] [26]} He made his debut for the program on September 29, as a starter in the first friendly. ^{[27] [28]} In November 2023, Tahid was named to the roster for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. ^{[29] [30]} Tahid scored his first international goal against Argentina U17 in a friendly prior to the tournament, on November 5. ^[31] He then started all three of the team's matches at the World Cup tournament. ^{[32] [33]}

Career statistics

As of October 6, 2023 ^[34]

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		Domestic Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Vancouver FC	2023	Canadian Premier League	20	3	–		0	0	–		20	3
Career total			20	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	3

References

1. "Taryck Jordan Tahid profile". Vancouver FC .
2. Vallejo, Felipe (May 19, 2023). "Remember The Name: An Interview with Vancouver FC's record-breaking Taryck "TJ" Tahid". Away from the Numbers.
3. T.J. Tahid at the Canadian Soccer Association
4. Balzer, Kyle (November 3, 2023). "New West soccer alum named to Canada's FIFA U17 World Cup squad". New Westminster Record.
5. "Vancouver FC announce signing of youngest player in CPL history Taryck Tahid". Canadian Premier League . May 6, 2023.
6. Palermo, Adam (June 1, 2023). "Meet TJ Tahid, Vancouver FC talent and Canadian soccer's record-breaking youngster". Canadian Soccer Daily.
7. Fuhr Nielsen, Mikkel (May 7, 2023). "Kaldt et fodboldfænomen: Her er FCM-emnes nye klub" [Called a football phenomenon: Here is the FCM subject's new club]. Tipsbladet (in Danish).
8. Akpan, Nsidibe (August 28, 2023). "Canadian wonderkid TJ Tahid wants to join Arsenal". Now Arsenal.
9. Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (June 12, 2023). "TJ Tahid: Vancouver FC's 16-year-old rising star with 'the heart of a lion'". OneSoccer .
10. "Interview Q&A: Ghanaian whiz kid TJ Tahid turning heads in Canada open to Black Stars call-up". Ghana SoccerNet. November 2, 2023.
11. Flanagan, Colleen (June 13, 2018). "Records fall at elementary track championships". Today in B.C.
12. Kelly, Cathal (August 25, 2023). "Young soccer star T.J. Tahid admires Ali, Malcolm X and Drake's shoes". The Globe & Mail .
13. Jacques, John (May 7, 2023). "Meet The CPL's Youngest-Ever Pro: TJ Tahid". Northern Tribune.
14. "Vancouver FC makes Maple Ridge teen the league's youngest player". Maple Ridge News. May 6, 2023.
15. Ferguson, Dan (May 7, 2023). "Vancouver FC's very first home game ends with a tie". Maple Ridge News.
16. Vallejo, Felipe (June 3, 2023). "A BC Derby To Remember: Vancouver and Pacific make history with nine goal thriller in Langley". Away from the Numbers.
17. "TJ Tahid youngest ever player named to CPL Team of the Week (Week 8)". Vancouver FC . June 5, 2023.
18. Nava, David (November 2, 2023). "TJ Tahid to fulfill a dream that started with Luis Suarez". Vancouver FC .
19. Corbett, Neil (October 19, 2023). "Maple Ridge phenom creates lifelong memories in first year of pro soccer". Surrey Now-Leader .
20. "Teenage Vancouver FC star TJ Tahid headlines Canada's Under-17 World Cup squad". Canadian Soccer Daily. November 2, 2023.
21. "Wie is Taryck Tahid, de tiener bij Feyenoord een proefperiode tegemoet gaat?" [Who is Taryck Tahid, the teenager facing a trial period at Feyenoord?]. Voetbalnieuws (in Dutch). December 29, 2023.
22. Jacques, John (January 6, 2024). "Report: Tahid Set For Feyenoord Trial". Northern Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
23. "Vancouver FC Midfielder Taryck 'TJ' Tahid Answers Canada Call". Our Sports Central. September 18, 2023.
24. "Vancouver FC young star, TJ Tahid, earns first international call up for Canada". Vancouver FC . September 18, 2023.
25. Jacques, John (September 18, 2023). "'Tremendous Competitor' TJ Tahid Called Up To Canada U-17 Team". Northern Tribune.
26. Tierney, Mitchell (September 18, 2023). "Vancouver FC's Tahid, Forge's Tavernier called up by Canada U-17 for friendly matches against Brazil". Canadian Premier League .
27. Jacques, John (October 3, 2023). "Trust The Kids: Tahid And Tavernier Both Feature For Canada U-17". Northern Tribune.
28. "TJ Tahid joins Canada's U-17 men's national team for preparation camp ahead of U-17 FIFA World Cup". Vancouver FC . October 17, 2023.
29. "VFC's Youngest Star TJ Tahid Gets U-17 World Cup Call Up". Vancouver FC . November 2, 2023.
30. Tierney, Mitchell (November 2, 2023). "'This will be the norm': Vancouver FC's Tahid, Forge's Tavernier named to Canada's squad for 2023 U-17 World Cup". Canadian Premier League .
31. Jacques, John (November 9, 2023). "A Chat With The Canadian Premier League's Youngest Pro". Northern Tribune.
32. Veth, Manuel (December 23, 2023). "TJ Tahid: Meet the Vancouver FC wonderkid who models his game after Alexis Sánchez". Transfermarkt .
33. Tierney, Mitchell (December 5, 2023). "'A good test for us': CPLers Tahid, Tavernier reflect on their experience at 2023 U-17 World Cup with Canada". Canadian Premier League .
34. T.J. Tahid at Soccerway

External links

• T.J. Tahid at Soccerway
• Personal website
• T.J. Tahid at the Canadian Soccer Association