Jayden Nelson Explained

Jayden Nelson
Birth Date:26 September 2002
Height:1.7m (05.6feet)
Birth Place:Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Currentclub:Rosenborg
Clubnumber:11
Position:Winger
Youthclubs1:Brampton YSC
Youthyears1:–2016
Youthclubs2:Toronto FC
Youthyears2:2016–2018
Years1:2017–2018
Clubs1:Toronto FC III
Caps1:8
Goals1:1
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:Toronto FC II
Caps2:14
Goals2:0
Years3:2020–2022
Clubs3:Toronto FC
Caps3:45
Goals3:1
Years4:2021
Clubs4:Toronto FC II (loan)
Caps4:9
Goals4:3
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:Rosenborg
Caps5:35
Goals5:5
Nationalteam1:Canada U15
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2019
Nationalteam2:Canada U17
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:5
Nationalyears3:2020–
Nationalteam3:Canada
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:2
Club-Update:11 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:July 4, 2023

Jayden Nelson (born September 26, 2002) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Rosenborg and the Canada national team.

Early life

Nelson grew up in Brampton, Ontario[1] and began playing soccer at age four with Brampton YSC. He later joined the Toronto FC Academy at age 14.[2] [3]

Club career

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. The following season, he made seven appearances, scoring his first goal for Toronto FC III on June 17, 2018, against Windsor TFC.[4]

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.[5]

On January 23, 2020, Nelson signed a Homegrown Player contract with first-team Toronto FC.[6] [7] He made his MLS debut for Toronto during the MLS is Back tournament, starting their round of 16 match against New York City FC.[8] He was loaned to the second team for some matches in 2021.[9] [10] He scored his first professional goal for Toronto FC II on June 16, 2021, against Fort Lauderdale CF.[11]

In December 2021, after the conclusion of the 2021 MLS season, Nelson joined Belgian club Anderlecht for a training stint.[12] He scored his first MLS goal on April 9, 2022, against Real Salt Lake.[13] [14] [15]

Rosenborg

In February 2023, Toronto announced they had transferred Nelson to Eliteserien side Rosenborg.[16] [17] He made his official debut on April 16 against Molde.[18] Nelson scored his first goal for his new club on June 4 against HamKam, netting the third goal in an eventual 4-0 victory.[19]

International career

Youth

Nelson attended his first Canadian youth camp in 2016.[20] 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.

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. Against Guatemala in the second game of the group stage, Nelson scored a hat-trick in a 4–2 win.[21] 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.[22] At the end of 2019, Nelson was named the Canadian Men's Youth International Player of the Year.[23] [24]

Nelson was named to the Canadian U-23 provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on February 26, 2020.[25]

Senior

In January 2020, Nelson was called up to the Canadian senior team ahead of friendlies against Barbados and Iceland.[26] He made his debut on January 7 against Barbados, coming on as a substitute in a 4–1 victory[27] and scored his first goal three days later, also against Barbados.[28] [29]

In June 2023, Nelson was named to Canada's preliminary roster for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[30] 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.[31]

Personal life

Jayden was born in Canada and is of Jamaican descent.[32] In 2022, Nelson made a donation to his former elementary school to restart a snack program which had been discontinued.[33]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Toronto FC III2017[34] League1 Ontario1010
2018[35] 712091
Total8120101
Toronto FC II2019USL League One140140
Toronto FC2020Major League Soccer7000001[36] 080
202170000070
202231140351
Total45100400010501
Toronto FC II2021USL League One8383
Rosenborg2023Eliteserien2443032306
20241113100142
Total35500613200448
Career total1101000101323012613

International

Canada
YearAppsGoals
202031
202100
202210
202311
Total52

International goals

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.

No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1. January 10, 2020 Championship Soccer Stadium, Irvine, United States 2 4–1 align=center 4–1 Friendly
2. July 4, 2023 Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, United States 5 align=center 3–1 align=center 4–2 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Correct as of July 5, 2023

Honours

Toronto FC

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nelson says new-look TFC has more of a family feel. March 2, 2022. Sportsnet.
  2. Web site: Tactical breakdown: Jayden Nelson still a work in progress for Toronto FC. May 13, 2016. Peter. Galindo. TFC Republic.
  3. Web site: Jayden Nelson profile. ATG Sports Management.
  4. Web site: TFC III Maintain First Spot By Hammering Windsor TFC 10-0. Jonathan. Cheng. June 18, 2018. League1 Ontario.
  5. Web site: Toronto FC signs Academy Product Jayden Nelson to first team. January 23, 2020. Toronto FC.
  6. Web site: Toronto FC sign Canada national team midfielder Jayden Nelson to Homegrown deal. Bogert. Tom. January 23, 2020. Major League Soccer.
  7. Web site: Toronto FC signs another talented teenager as 17-year-old Jayden Nelson joins first team. January 23, 2020. Neil. Davidson. Toronto Star.
  8. Web site: Ayo Akinola misses Toronto FC's Round of 16 match as 17-year-old Jayden Nelson starts. July 26, 2020. Major League Soccer.
  9. Web site: Toronto FC loan three players to Toronto FC II. June 9, 2021. Toronto FC.
  10. Web site: Ralph Priso, Jayden Nelson, Kevin Silva loaned to Toronto FC II. June 9, 2021. Waking the Red. Michael. Singh.
  11. Web site: TFC II battle to a compelling draw with Fort Lauderdale. Ben. Steiner. Waking the Red.
  12. Web site: Vidéo: Anderlecht a testé deux joueurs contre les espoirs du RWDM. December 9, 2021. Anderlecht Online. Video: Anderlecht tested two players against RWDM hopefuls. fr.
  13. Web site: Nelson's highlight-reel goal lifts TFC into draw with RSL. April 9, 2022. TSN.
  14. Web site: Could Jayden Nelson's first Toronto FC goal spark CanMNT World Cup roster consideration?. April 10, 2022. Major League Soccer. Dylan. Butler.
  15. Web site: Jayden Nelson earns Bob Bradley praise and sparks CanMNT conversation. Lizzy. Becherano. April 11, 2022. 90 min.
  16. Web site: Toronto FC transfer Jayden Nelson to Rosenborg BK. February 8, 2023. Toronto FC.
  17. Web site: Jayden Nelson joins Rosenborg BK - Among 10 most valuable CanMNT players. February 8, 2023. Transfermarkt. Manuel. Veth.
  18. Web site: Canadians Abroad Roundup: How Alphonso Davies’ injury impacts Canada’s summer plans. Peter. Galindo. April 24, 2023. Canadian Soccer Daily.
  19. Web site: DEILIG OPPTUR MOT HAMKAM. June 4, 2023. Rosenborg.
  20. Web site: Toronto FC teenage forward Jayden Nelson continues to turn heads with Canada. January 15, 2020. Neil. Davidson. CBC Sports.
  21. Web site: Toronto FC's Jayden Nelson leads Canada U-17s over Guatemala. Baer. Benjamin. May 4, 2019. Major League Soccer.
  22. News: Canada books spot at FIFA U-17 World Cup with dramatic shootout win over Costa Rica. May 12, 2019. The Globe and Mail. May 30, 2019.
  23. Web site: Toronto FC prospect Jayden Nelson named Canadian Youth International Player of the Year. December 10, 2019. Dylan. Butler. Major League Soccer.
  24. Web site: TFC II's Jayden Nelson named 2019 Canadian Youth International Player of the Year. December 11, 2019. Benedict. Rhodes. Waking the Red.
  25. Web site: Canada Soccer announces Provisional List for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying . Canada Soccer . February 26, 2020 . February 26, 2020 . March 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200309191149/https://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-soccer-announces-provisional-list-for-concacaf-men-s-olympic-qualifying-p162594-preview-1 . dead .
  26. Web site: Tristan Borges Called Up To Canada National Team Ahead Of Three Friendlies. John. Jacques. January 3, 2020. Northern Tribune.
  27. Web site: HIGHLIGHTS: CanMNT begins 2020 with a win in friendly vs. Barbados. January 7, 2019. Canadian Premier League.
  28. Web site: Canadian men's soccer comfortably dispatches Barbados in friendly rematch . . January 10, 2020.
  29. Web site: TFC's Nelson making a push to be considered for Canada's World Cup-bound team. Steve. Buffery. April 10, 2022. Toronto Sun.
  30. Web site: National team roster – 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. 1 June 2023.
  31. Web site: Eustaquio, Adekugbe replaced by Nelson, Fraser for Canada at Gold Cup. June 26, 2023.
  32. Web site: December 5, 2019. World Cup 2026: Meet the future North American stars dreaming of success. BBC Sport.
  33. Web site: Toronto FC teenager Jayden Nelson gives back to his Brampton elementary school. April 26, 2022. Toronto Star. Neil. Davidson.
  34. Web site: Jayden Nelson 2017 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  35. Web site: Jayden Nelson 2018 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  36. Appearance in the MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage.
  37. News: At last, Toronto FC capture 2020 Canadian Championship over Forge FC. Major League Soccer. June 4, 2022. June 4, 2022.