Robert Taylor (footballer, born 1994)

Robert Thomas Taylor (born 21 October 1994) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and wing-back for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Finland national team.

Youth career
Taylor joined the youth team at JJK in 2004, and stayed with the club until senior level. During this time, he had spells in the country of his father's birth, England, with Nottingham Forest and then Lincoln City, who he joined on a two-year scholarship in 2011.

Boston Town (loan)
Taylor was loaned out to Boston Town of the United Counties League in 2013, where he made one appearance.

Barnet
Later in 2013, he joined Barnet, where he was due to sign a professional contract, but this fell through following their relegation from the English Football League.

JJK
Taylor played for JJK in the Ykkönen until 2015, when he joined Veikkausliiga side RoPS.

AIK
In July 2017, Taylor was transferred to AIK for €100,000.

Tromsø (loan)
He joined Tromsø on loan for the 2018 season, and then permanently for the 2019 season.

Brann
On 20 January 2020, Taylor penned a three-year deal with Brann, which saw Ruben Yttergård Jenssen go the other way.

Inter Miami
On 11 February 2022, Taylor moved to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami on a two-year deal with an option for a further year, for a transfer fee of $500,000. He was scouted by the club to play as a winger and made his debut in the season opener on 26 February, a 0–0 draw with the Chicago Fire.

During the 2023 Leagues Cup, Taylor formed an attacking partnership with new Miami signings Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba that drew comparisons to Messi's earlier teammates Ángel Di María and Andrés Iniesta. He scored five goals and had three assists in seven matches as the club won their first trophy. On 25 October 2023, Inter Miami announced they had exercised their option to keep Taylor in Miami until the end of 2024.

On 18 July 2024, in a match against Toronto FC, both Taylor and his teammate Drake Callender made their 100th appearance for Inter Miami in all competitions combined, becoming the first players in the club's history to reach the milestone.

International career
Taylor has been capped by Finland at under-17, under-19, under-20, under-21 and senior level. He made his debut for the senior side on 9 January 2017 as a substitute in a 1–0 friendly win over Morocco.

On 11 October 2020, Taylor scored his first goal in a 2–0 UEFA Nations League victory over Bulgaria.

On 1 June 2021, Taylor was selected for Finland's UEFA Euro 2020 squad, but he did not appear in any of the matches of the tournament.

In March 2024, after Taylor was already named in the Finland squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying play-offs match against Wales, Taylor declined the call-up stating that he wants to focus more on an important MLS regular season match against New York Red Bulls.

Personal life
Taylor's father Paul is an English former footballer who played for KuPS in the 1990s. Paul resides in Jyväskylä and currently coaches youth teams in a local club Jyväskylän Komeetat.

International

 * As of match played 17 October 2023. Finland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Taylor goal.

Honours
Inter Miami


 * Leagues Cup: 2023