Brampton soccer star makes first ever appearance by Canadian in Italy’s Serie A
Published February 16, 2024 at 7:54 pm
Two months after his transfer from Belgium to Italy, Canadian international Tajon Buchanan got a belated birthday present when he finally got into a match for Inter Milan, the first Canadian to ever play in Serie A – Italy’s storied first division of soccer.
With Inter up 3-0 vs. league bottom dweller Salernitana, Buchanan made his debut, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute for Alessandro Bastoni. The 25-year-old Brampton native (his birthday was Feb. 8) looked confident in his 13 or so minutes of action and almost won a penalty shortly after his arrival on the pitch.
It may have taken a couple of months to get on the field after transferring from Belgium side Brugges to storied Inter Milan – he last played Dec. 10 in Belgium – but Buchanan has been working hard in training on his soccer and off the pitch on his Italian language skills as he prepared for his first appearance.
Brampton’s Tajon Buchanan steps onto the pitch in Serie A for the first time
“Never stop dreaming,” he said after the transfer was announced. “A special thank you to everyone involved for giving me this opportunity and making this possible. Can’t wait to get started. Forza Inter.”
Buchanan came up through the Sigma youth soccer system in Mississauga and played collegiate soccer for Syracuse before signing with New England of Major League Soccer.
Videos
He joined Club Brugges in 2021 and played two-and-a half years with the team – making an appearance in Champions League round of 16 match – before transferring to Inter Milan.
Buchanan has made 35 appearances for Canada, scoring four goals. He started all three World Cup games in Qatar and it was his cross that was headed in by Alphonso Davies against Belgium for Canada’s historic first ever World Cup goal.
