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
Place of birth New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Skënderbeu Korçë
Number 88
Youth career
New Westminster Africa United FC
–2017 Albion FC
2018–2022 VanCity Pro Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 Vancouver FC 46 (4)
2025– Skënderbeu Korçë 0 (0)
International career‡
2023 Canada U17 6 (1)
2025 Ghana U20 1 (0)
2025– Canada U18 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of September 10, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of September 7, 2025

Taryck Jordan Tahid (born April 21, 2007) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Skënderbeu Korçë in the Kategoria e Parë.

Tahid is the youngest player to have ever played in a Canadian Premier League match, as well as the youngest goalscorer in league history.

Early life

Tahid was born in New Westminster, British Columbia and was raised in a Ghanaian-Canadian family in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.[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 attended Maple Ridge Secondary School, switching to online classes to be able to combine his professional career.[12][13]

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.[14][15] 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.[16] He scored his first professional goal on June 2 against Pacific FC, becoming the league's youngest ever goal scorer,[17] and was subsequently named to the CPL Team of the Week for the first time, becoming the youngest player to receive a TOTW nomination.[18] He finished his first professional season with three goals in 20 appearances, including six starts.[19][20][21] In January 2024, Tahid went on trial with the academy of Dutch club Feyenoord.[22][23] In February 2025, he went on trial with Belgian side RWD Molenbeek.[24] Over his three seasons with Vancouver FC, Tahid made 46 appearances and scored four goals for the club.[25]

On September 10, 2025, it was announced that Tahid had joined Albanian side Skënderbeu Korçë of the Kategoria e Parë on a free transfer, with the potential for additional future compensation based on undisclosed conditions.[25][26] He was initially assigned to the club's U19 squad,[27] and scored a hat-trick on his debut for the side on September 17, in a 10–0 away win over Inter Club d'Escaldes in the first round of the UEFA Youth League Domestic Champions Path.[27][28]

International career

Tahid is eligible to represent Canada and Ghana at international level.[29] In September 2023, he was called up to the Canada U17 team for the first time, ahead of a pair of friendlies against Brazil.[30][31][32] He made his debut for the program on September 29, as a starter in the first friendly.[33][34] In November 2023, Tahid was named to the roster for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[35][36] Tahid scored his first international goal against Argentina U17 in a friendly prior to the tournament, on November 5.[37] He then started all three of the team's matches at the World Cup tournament.[38][39]

On March 20, 2025, he made his debut with Ghana U20 at a friendly mini-tournament against Morocco U20.[40][41] In April 2025, he was initially called up to the side for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations[42][43] (however, he ultimately did not join the squad).

In September 2025, he joined the Canada U18 team for a training camp in Finland.[25][26]

Personal life

During the 2025 season, Tahid wrote a series of articles for the Langley Advance Times, called Player's Diary, about his season with Vancouver FC, until his transfer to Skënderbeu Korçë in September 2025 (after which Thierno Bah took over the article series).[44]

Career statistics

As of July 19, 2025[45]
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
2024 16 1 – 0 0 – 16 1
2025 10 0 – 0 0 – 10 0
Total 46 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 46 4
Skënderbeu Korçë 2025–26 Kategoria e Parë 0 0 – 1 3 – 1 3
Career total 46 4 0 0 1 3 0 0 47 7

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 Canada Soccer
  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. ^ "Balancing School and Soccer with TJ Tahid". Vancouver FC. September 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Jacques, John (May 7, 2023). "Meet The CPL's Youngest-Ever Pro: TJ Tahid". Northern Tribune.
  15. ^ "Vancouver FC makes Maple Ridge teen the league's youngest player". Maple Ridge News. May 6, 2023.
  16. ^ Ferguson, Dan (May 7, 2023). "Vancouver FC's very first home game ends with a tie". Maple Ridge News.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "TJ Tahid youngest ever player named to CPL Team of the Week (Week 8)". Vancouver FC. June 5, 2023.
  19. ^ Nava, David (November 2, 2023). "TJ Tahid to fulfill a dream that started with Luis Suarez". Vancouver FC.
  20. ^ Corbett, Neil (October 19, 2023). "Maple Ridge phenom creates lifelong memories in first year of pro soccer". Surrey Now-Leader.
  21. ^ "Teenage Vancouver FC star TJ Tahid headlines Canada's Under-17 World Cup squad". Canadian Soccer Daily. November 2, 2023.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ Jacques, John (January 6, 2024). "Report: Tahid Set For Feyenoord Trial". Northern Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  24. ^ Veth, Manuel (February 5, 2025). "TJ Tahid off to RWD Molenbeek? Vancouver FC talent training with Belgian side". Transfermarkt.
  25. ^ a b c Jacques, John (September 10, 2025). "Tahid Completes Vancouver FC Exit". Northern Tribune. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  26. ^ a b "TJ Tahid transferred to KF Skënderbeu Korçë". Vancouver FC. September 10, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Skënderbeu kthehet në Europë me goleadë historike, ekipi U19 fiton me 10 gola në UEFA Youth League". panorama.com.al (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. September 17, 2025. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  28. ^ "Inter Escaldes vs Skënderbeu | UEFA Youth League 2025/26". UEFA.com. September 17, 2025. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  29. ^ "Vancouver FC Midfielder Taryck 'TJ' Tahid Answers Canada Call". Our Sports Central. September 18, 2023.
  30. ^ "Vancouver FC young star, TJ Tahid, earns first international call up for Canada". Vancouver FC. September 18, 2023.
  31. ^ Jacques, John (September 18, 2023). "'Tremendous Competitor' TJ Tahid Called Up To Canada U-17 Team". Northern Tribune.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ Jacques, John (October 3, 2023). "Trust The Kids: Tahid And Tavernier Both Feature For Canada U-17". Northern Tribune.
  34. ^ "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.
  35. ^ "VFC's Youngest Star TJ Tahid Gets U-17 World Cup Call Up". Vancouver FC. November 2, 2023.
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ Jacques, John (November 9, 2023). "A Chat With The Canadian Premier League's Youngest Pro". Northern Tribune.
  38. ^ Veth, Manuel (December 23, 2023). "TJ Tahid: Meet the Vancouver FC wonderkid who models his game after Alexis Sánchez". Transfermarkt.
  39. ^ 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.
  40. ^ "TJ Tahid called up to Ghana U-20 National Team for tournament in Morocco". Vancouver FC. March 21, 2025.
  41. ^ "Canadian whiz kid TJ Tahid debuts for Ghana U20; edges closer to permanent nationality switch". Ghana SoccerNet. March 22, 2025.
  42. ^ Guillou, Keveren (April 14, 2025). "Vancouver FC's TJ Tahid called up by Ghana for 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations". Vancouver FC.
  43. ^ "Ex-Canada U17 star TJ Tahid named in Ghana's final squad for CAF U20 Cup of Nations". Ghana SoccerNet. April 14, 2025.
  44. ^ "Player's Diary". Langley Advance Times.
  45. ^ T.J. Tahid at Soccerway
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.