Tajio James

Tajio James
Personal information
Full name Tajio Ricardo J. James
Date of birth (2003-12-17) 17 December 2003
Place of birth Bridgetown, Barbados
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 NK Varaždin
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Feather River Golden Eagles 40 (41)
2023–2024 Central Arkansas Bears 32 (8)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 UWI Blackbirds
2024 Houston FC 10 (2)
2025– NK Varaždin 0 (0)
2025 → NK Bjelovar (loan) 9 (0)
International career‡
2022– Barbados 15 (5)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 03:27, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:05, 24 January 2026 (UTC)

Tajio James (born 17 December 2003) is a Barbadian footballer who plays as a midfielder for NK Varaždin of the Croatian Football League, and the Barbados national team.

Club career

As a youth James was part of the KFC Pinelands Football Academy and Pro Shottas United. With the latter he won a number of youth titles.[1][2][3] For the 2020 Barbados Premier League season he was part of the youth movement at UWI Blackbirds FC.[4] He scored his first two Premier League goals on 3 March 2020 in a 4–0 victory over Brittons Hill FC.[5]

In August 2021 it was announced that James and fellow-Barbadian Devonte Richards had received a scholarship to play college soccer in the United States for the Golden Eagles of Feather River College.[2] During his first season with the team, James tallied nine assists and a team-high thirteen goals as Feather River College won the CCCAA Golden Valley Conference Championship.[6] Late in the season he was leading the conference in both goals and points.[7] Following his sophomore season, James was named to the second team of the United Soccer Coaches 2022 Junior College Division III All-America Team.[8]

In April 2023 it was announced that James had transferred to NCAA Division I school Central Arkansas University to play for the Bears.[9] He joined Houston FC of the USL League Two for the 2024 season.[10] James made ten appearances for the club, scoring two goals, throughout the season.[11]

Following graduation from Central Arkansas, James signed for NK Varaždin of the Croatian Football League, the top-flight league in Croatia, on a three-year deal. The signing culminated a summer trial with the club which included a goal in a friendly with Hungarian club Paksi FC.[12][13] In September 2025, the player was loaned out to NK Bjelovar of the Second League.[14]

International career

James represented Barbados as a youth at the U15 and U17 levels,[4] including three appearances in the 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.[15] He received his first senior call-up by head coach Russell Latapy in February 2021.[16] He was called up again for the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B.[17] James went on to make his senior international debut on 2 June 2022 in Barbados's opening match against Antigua and Barbuda.[18][19]

James scored his first senior international goal in a 1–1 friendly draw with Grenada on 22 February 2023.[20] Two days later he scored two more goals in another draw with the same opponent.[21][22]

International goals

Scores and results list Barbados's goal tally first.[18]

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 22 February 2023 Fond Playing Field, Sauteurs, Grenada  Grenada 1–1 1–1 Friendly
2. 24 February 2023 Kirani James Athletic Stadium St. George's, Grenada 1–0 2–2
3. 2–1
4. 26 March 2023 Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda  Antigua and Barbuda 2–1 2–1 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B
5. 20 November 2023 Blakes Estate Stadium, Lookout, Montserrat  Montserrat 2–4 2–4 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League B
Last updated 20 November 2023

International career statistics

As of match played 10 June 2025.[18]
Barbados
Year Apps Goals
2022 4 0
2023 7 5
2024 2 0
2025 2 0
Total 15 5

References

  1. ^ Phillips, Michael. "FOOTBALL: TEAMS SLIPPING INTO POLE POSITION IN GUARDIAN GROUP TOURNEY". Barbados Advocate. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b Gilkes, Renaldo. "Pine pair earn scholarship to the United States". Loop News. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Goal feast for usual suspects". Nation News. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b Gilkes, Renaldo. "From the BFA dug outs: A minute with Tajio James". Loop News. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  5. ^ "James brace leads UWI in Premier League victory". Loops News. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  6. ^ Gilkes, Renaldo. "Bajan duo earn Conference title in the US". Loop News. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Golden Eagle's Lead GVC, Face #11 Butte College". Feather River College Athletics. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  8. ^ "United Soccer Coaches Announces 2022 Junior College All-Americans". National Soccer Coaches. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  9. ^ Thiele, Ryan. "Men's Soccer Adds to 2023 Signing Class". Central Arkansas Athletics. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  10. ^ Paul, Brenden. "Toucans battle to 1-1 draw in final home match". KBTX3. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  11. ^ "2024 Stats". USL League Two. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Tajio James Heads to Croatia, Inks Three-Year Deal with Varaždin". Score Barbados. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  13. ^ Coppin, Jonteau. "James secures three-year deal with Croatian Club". Nation News. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Record of Performed Registrations" (PDF) (in Croatian). Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Global Sports Archive profile". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  16. ^ Gilkes, Renaldo. "Loop speaks to Tridents' "New kids on the block"". Loop News. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  17. ^ Lindsay, Morrisa. "Barbados team named; Gale missing again". Barbados Today. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  18. ^ a b c "NFT profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Philip strikes late for Antigua & Barbuda winner vs Barbados". CONCACAF. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Grenada Draws First International Friendly Against Barbados". Mikey Live. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  21. ^ Clarke, Sherrylyn. "Tajio strikes twice". Nation News. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  22. ^ "Decisive tests await Cuba, Guadeloupe as League B returns". CONCACAF. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
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