Canadian international winger Tajon Buchanan has joined Spain's Villarreal CF from Italy's Inter Milan on a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., joined Inter in January 2024 from Belgium's Club Brugge but found playing time hard to get on the star-studded squad with 17 appearances in total. A broken leg suffered in training with Canada at last summer's Copa America did not help.
Still Buchanan made history as the first Canadian goal-scorer in Serie A when he scored off the bench last May in a 5-0 win over Frosinone.
Villarreal, which plays at the 23,00-capacity Estadio de la Ceramica, sat fifth in the Spanish top tier at 9-5-7 going into Saturday's game against visiting Real Valladolid.
Founded in 1923, the team is known as the Yellow Submarine because of its yellow home kit. The Spanish side won the Europa League in May 2021 in dramatic fashion, defeating Manchester United 11-10 in a penalty shootout after the two teams drew 1-1.
Buchanan joins fellow Canadian Cyle Larin (Mallorca) in La Liga.
Villarreal confirmed Saturday that Buchanan had passed his medical, with his official presentation to come.
"A player who can trick defenders, who gets in goal-scoring positions, and has ability to provide assists," the Spanish club said in announcing the loan deal.
Buchanan underwent surgery last July to repair a fractured tibia, returning to the Canada squad last November for its CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
A member of Canada's 2022 World Cup squad, Buchanan has made 43 appearances (including 31 starts) for Canada with four goals and six assists.
Buchanan was taken in the first round (ninth overall) by the New England Revolution in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.
He was runner-up to FC Dallas forward Ricardo Pepi as the 2021 MLS Young Player of the Year after finishing with career highs in games played (27), starts (19), goals (eight), and assists (five) in his third MLS season.
Buchanan, named best young player at the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, joined Belgian champion Club Brugge after the 2021 season. He made 50 regular-season appearances for New England with 10 goals and nine assists.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 1, 2025
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
