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Jayden Nelson
Canadian soccer player (born 2002) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jayden Nelson (born September 26, 2002) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Canadian MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Canada national team.
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Early life
Nelson grew up in Brampton, Ontario[1] and began playing soccer at age four with Brampton YSC.[2] He later joined the Toronto FC Academy at age 14.[3][4]
Club career
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Toronto FC
Nelson made his debut for Toronto FC III in League1 Ontario on September 2, 2017, in a game against Toronto Skillz FC in his only appearance of the season.[5] The following season, he made seven appearances,[6] scoring his first goal for Toronto FC III on June 17, 2018, against Windsor TFC.[7]
Nelson made his professional debut for Toronto FC II in USL League One on April 6, 2019, coming on as a substitute against Orlando City B.[8]
On January 23, 2020, Nelson signed a Homegrown Player contract with first-team Toronto FC.[9][10] He made his MLS debut for Toronto during the MLS is Back tournament, starting their round of 16 match against New York City FC.[11] He was loaned to the second team for some matches in 2021.[12][13] He scored his first professional goal for Toronto FC II on June 16, 2021, against Fort Lauderdale CF.[14]
In December 2021, after the conclusion of the 2021 MLS season, Nelson joined Belgian club Anderlecht for a training stint.[15] He scored his first MLS goal on April 9, 2022, against Real Salt Lake.[16][17][18]
Rosenborg
In February 2023, Toronto announced they had transferred Nelson to Eliteserien side Rosenborg.[19][20] He made his official debut on April 16 against Molde.[21] Nelson scored his first goal for his new club on June 4 against HamKam, netting the third goal in an eventual 4–0 victory.[22]
Nelson joined 2. Bundesliga club SSV Ulm on loan in August 2024.[23] Ulm also secured an option to sign him permanently.[23]
Whitecaps FC
On January 24, 2025, Nelson returned to Canada, signing with Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The contract is for a transfer through 2028 with an option for the following year.[24] In Nelson's MLS debut with the Whitecaps, he would get a goal and three assists against the Portland Timbers.[25]
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International career
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Youth
Nelson attended his first Canadian youth camp in 2016.[26] Nelson made his debut for the Canada national under-15 team in the 2017 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship on August 13, 2017, against the United States.[2]
Nelson made his debut for the Canada national under-17 team in the 2019 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship on May 2, 2019, against the United States.[2] Against Guatemala in the second game of the group stage, Nelson scored a hat-trick in a 4–2 win.[27] Nelson scored twice more in the tournament – against Curaçao and Costa Rica respectively – as Canada qualified for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for the first time since 2013.[28] At the end of 2019, Nelson was named the Canadian Men's Youth International Player of the Year.[29][30]
Nelson was named to the Canadian U-23 provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on February 26, 2020.[31]
Senior
In January 2020, Nelson was called up to the Canadian senior team ahead of friendlies against Barbados and Iceland.[32] He made his debut on January 7 against Barbados, coming on as a substitute in a 4–1 victory[33] and scored his first goal three days later, also against Barbados.[34][35]
In June 2023, Nelson was named to Canada's preliminary roster for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[36] Initially left off the roster, on June 26 he was called into the final squad along with Liam Fraser as replacements for Sam Adekugbe and Stephen Eustáquio.[37]
Personal life
Jayden was born in Canada and is of Jamaican descent.[38] In 2022, Nelson made a donation to his former elementary school to restart a snack program which had been discontinued.[39]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played May 17, 2025[40]
- Appearance in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage
- Includes appearance in 2020 Canadian Championship final (played in 2022)
International
- As of match played July 4, 2023[citation needed]
- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nelson goal.
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Honours
Toronto FC
Individual
References
External links
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