Tajio James

Tajio James (born 17 December 2003) is a Barbadian footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Central Arkansas Bears and the Barbados national team.

Tajio James

Personal information
Date of birth	(2003-12-17) 17 December 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth	Bridgetown, Barbados
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Central Arkansas Bears
Number	11
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2022	Feather River Golden Eagles	40	(41)
2023–2024	Central Arkansas Bears	27	(4)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2021	UWI Blackbirds
International career‡
2022–	Barbados	10	(5)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:34, 10 August 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 00:50, 21 November 2023 (UTC)

Club career

As a youth James was part of the KFC Pinelands Football Academy and Pro Shottas United. With the latter he won a number of youth titles.^[1][2][3] For the 2020 Barbados Premier League season he was part of the youth movement at UWI Blackbirds FC.^[4] He scored his first two Premier League goals on 3 March 2020 in a 4–0 victory over Brittons Hill FC.^[5]

In August 2021 it was announced that James and fellow-Barbadian Devonte Richards had received a scholarship to play college soccer in the United States for the Golden Eagles of Feather River College.^[2] During his first season with the team, James tallied nine assists and a team-high thirteen goals as Feather River College won the CCCAA Golden Valley Conference Championship.^[6] Late in the season he was leading the conference in both goals and points.^[7] Following his sophomore season, James was named to the second team of the United Soccer Coaches 2022 Junior College Division III All-America Team.^[8]

In April 2023 it was announced that James had transferred to NCAA Division 1 school Central Arkansas University to play for the Bears.^[9]

International career

James represented Barbados as a youth at the U15 and U17 levels,^[4] including three appearances in the 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.^[10] He received his first senior call-up by head coach Russell Latapy in February 2021.^[11] He was called up again for the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B.^[12] James went on to make his senior international debut on 2 June 2022 in Barbados's opening match against Antigua and Barbuda.^[13][14]

James scored his first senior international goal in a 1–1 friendly draw with Grenada on 22 February 2023.^[15] Two days later he scored two more goals in another draw with the same opponent.^[16][17]

International goals

Scores and results list Barbados's goal tally first.^[13]

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	22 February 2023	Fond Playing Field, Sauteurs, Grenada	Grenada	1–1	1–1	Friendly
2.	24 February 2023	Kirani James Athletic Stadium St. George's, Grenada		1–0	2–2
3.				2–1
4.	26 March 2023	Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda	Antigua and Barbuda	2–1	2–1	2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B
5.	20 November 2023	Blakes Estate Stadium, Lookout, Montserrat	Montserrat	2–4	2–4	2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League B
Last updated 20 November 2023

International career statistics

As of match played 20 November 2023.^[13]

Barbados
Year	Apps	Goals
2022	4	0
2023	6	5
Total	10	5