José Fajardo (footballer)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fajardo and the second or maternal family name is Nelson.

José Fajardo Nelson (born 18 August 1993) is a Panamanian footballer who plays as a forward for Universidad Catolica del Ecuador on loan from CAI and the Panama national team.^[1]

José Fajardo

Personal information
Full name	José Fajardo Nelson
Date of birth	(1993-08-18) 18 August 1993 (age 32)
Place of birth	Colón, Panama
Height	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Universidad Católica
Number	7
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2021	CAI	58	(26)
2018–2019	→ Al-Kawkab (loan)
2020	→ La Equidad (loan)
2021	9 de Octubre	27	(12)
2022–2023	Cusco FC	37	(20)
2023	D.C. United	7	(0)
2024–	CAI	0	(0)
2024–	→ Universidad Católica (loan)	41	(15)
International career‡
2017–	Panama	58	(15)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Panama CONCACAF Gold Cup Runner-up 2023 United States–Canada Team CONCACAF Nations League Runner-up 2025 United States Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 24 March 2025

Club career

Fajardo began his career with promoted side Independiente in the Liga Panameña de Fútbol during the 2017–18 season. Fajardo finished as top scorer of the 2018 Clausura, leading Independiente to their first ever national league title.^[1]

International career

Fajardo made his international debut for Panama on 25 October 2017 in a 5–0 friendly away win against Grenada. On 14 May 2018, Fajardo was included in Panama's preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup,^[2] but was not able to make the final 23.^[3] On 27 June 2024, Fajardo scored against the United States in the 2024 Copa America to win the game in the 83rd minute.

Career statistics

International

As of match 24 March 2025^[4]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Panama	2017	1	0
	2018	1	0
	2019	7	0
	2020	4	2
	2021	10	1
	2022	7	1
	2023	13	6
	2024	13	5
	2025	2	0
Total		58	15

Scores and results list Panama's goal tally first.^[4]

List of international goals scored by José Fajardo

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	16 November 2020	Stadion Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Austria	United States	1–0	2–6	Friendly
2.				2–3
3.	28 March 2021	Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic	Dominica	2–1	2–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.	15 November 2022	Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium, Al Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates	Venezuela	1–0	2–2	Friendly
5.	28 March 2023	Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica	Costa Rica	1–0	1–0	2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A
6.	26 June 2023	DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States	Costa Rica	1–0	2–1	2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
7.	30 June 2023	Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States	Martinique	1–0	2–1
8.	7 September 2023	Estadio Universitario, Penonomé, Panama	Martinique	1–0	3–0	2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A
9.	16 November 2023	Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica	Costa Rica	2–0	3–0
10.	20 November 2023	Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama	Costa Rica	1–0	3–1
11.	9 June 2024	Estadio Nacional, Managua, Nicaragua	Montserrat	2–1	3–1	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
12.	27 June 2024	Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States	United States	2–1	2–1	2024 Copa América
13.	1 July 2024	Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, United States	Bolivia	1–0	3–1
14.	15 October 2024	BMO Field, Toronto, Canada	Canada	1–1	1–2	Friendly
15.	14 November 2024	Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica	Costa Rica	1–0	1–0	2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A

Honours

Independiente

• Liga Panameña de Fútbol: 2018 Clausura^[5]

Cusco

• Peruvian Segunda División: 2022

Panama

• CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2023^[6]
• CONCACAF Nations League runner-up: 2024–25^[7]