Tajio James
Barbadian footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tajio James (born 17 December 2003) is a Barbadian footballer who plays as a midfielder for NK Varaždin of the Croatian Football League, and the Barbados national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tajio Ricardo J. James | ||
| Date of birth | 17 December 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Bridgetown, Barbados | ||
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | NK Varaždin | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Feather River Golden Eagles | 40 | (41) |
| 2023–2024 | Central Arkansas Bears | 32 | (8) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | UWI Blackbirds | ||
| 2024 | Houston FC | 10 | (2) |
| 2025– | NK Varaždin | 0 | (0) |
| 2025 | → NK Bjelovar (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022– | Barbados | 15 | (5) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 03:27, 24 January 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:05, 24 January 2026 (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 I school Central Arkansas University to play for the Bears.[9] He joined Houston FC of the USL League Two for the 2024 season.[10] James made ten appearances for the club, scoring two goals, throughout the season.[11]
Following graduation from Central Arkansas, James signed for NK Varaždin of the Croatian Football League, the top-flight league in Croatia, on a three-year deal. The signing culminated a summer trial with the club which included a goal in a friendly with Hungarian club Paksi FC.[12][13] In September 2025, the player was loaned out to NK Bjelovar of the Second League.[14]
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.[15] He received his first senior call-up by head coach Russell Latapy in February 2021.[16] He was called up again for the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B.[17] James went on to make his senior international debut on 2 June 2022 in Barbados's opening match against Antigua and Barbuda.[18][19]
James scored his first senior international goal in a 1–1 friendly draw with Grenada on 22 February 2023.[20] Two days later he scored two more goals in another draw with the same opponent.[21][22]
International goals
Scores and results list Barbados's goal tally first.[18]
| 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 10 June 2025.[18]
| Barbados | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | 7 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 15 | 5 |