T.J. Tahid

Taryck Jordan Tahid (born April 21, 2007) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League. He is the youngest player to ever play in a Canadian Premier League match, as also the youngest goalscorer in league history.

Early life
Tahid was born in Maple Ridge, British Columbia and was raised in a Ghanaian-Canadian family. He began playing youth soccer at age three with New Westminster Africa United FC, later joining Albion FC, in his hometown of Maple Ridge, British Columbia. In 2018, he joined the VanCity Pro Football Academy, which was founded by his father. He has also trialed with the academies of Spanish club Villarreal, Danish club FC Midtjylland and American club New York Red Bulls. He also trained with men's amateur teams from the Vancouver Metro Soccer League. In 2019, during a trip to Ghana with his family, he trained with local club Yelzoli FC.

In his youth, he also ran track and field, setting the 100m and 200m records for Grade 5 boys at the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district elementary track and field championships in 2018. He currently attends Maple Ridge Secondary School.

Club career
After trialing with the club during pre-season, on May 6, 2023, Tahid signed a full professional contract with Vancouver FC of the Canadian Premier League, becoming (at the time) the youngest player to ever sign a Canadian Premier League standard contract at the age of 16 years and 16 days. He made his professional debut the next day, in a substitute appearance against Cavalry FC, becoming the youngest player to appear in a CPL match at the age of 16 years and 17 days. He scored his first professional goal on June 2 against Pacific FC, becoming the league's youngest ever goal scorer, and was subsequently named to the CPL Team of the Week for the first time, becoming the youngest player to receive a TOTW nomination. He finished his first professional season with three goals in 20 appearances, including six starts. In January 2024, Tahid went on trial with the academy of Dutch club Feyenoord.

International career
Tahid is eligible to represent Canada and Ghana at international level. In September 2023, he was called up to the Canada U17 team for the first time, ahead of a pair of friendlies against Brazil. He made his debut for the program on September 29, as a starter in the first friendly. In November 2023, Tahid was named to the roster for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Tahid scored his first international goal against Argentina U17 in a friendly prior to the tournament, on November 5. He then started all three of the team's matches at the World Cup tournament.