Tajon Buchanan signs with Club Brugge for record fee for SU alum

The forward is heading to Belgium and a Champion’s League side for a whopping $7 million.

One of the Syracuse Orange men’s soccer team’s best in recent history is still on the rise. Tajon Buchanan, former Orange forward has officially been announced by Club Brugge, as their most recent transfer acquisition. He will be finishing the current season with the New England Revolution and completing his move in the January window. Buchanan played for Syracuse from 2017-2018, netting twelve goals, six assists and multiple All-ACC accolades, before being drafted ninth overall in the 20019 MLS Superdraft as a Generation Adidas player.

The move is the record sale of both a Syracuse Orange player (by all of my accounts and googling) as well as a New England Revolution player, besting the $4 million that Fulham FC payed for some guy named Clint Dempsey. The Revolution also put in a 10% sell on clause, making this deal even more lucrative if Brugge, who has a history of developing players, sells him on for a higher transfer fee.

Buchanan has risen quickly up the MLS ranks, moving wide, from his more forward position with the Orange, and finding a role for himself as a right midfielder. His ability on the ball running on to people, as well as his pace getting up the wing or in behind increase his versatility and his work rate tracking back should help Club Brugge come the second half of their season. This summer alone he worked himself into a starting spot with the Canadian Men’s National Team and was the Golden Boy of the Gold Cup. Not a bad way to start an international career either.

There’s been a ton of love from the Orange community, from Coach Ian McIntyre and his former Orange, Ryan Raposo and Miles Robinson wishing him luck in the move. As noted, more to come, since he’ll be finishing out the season in MLS, as well as with Canada in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, including a date matching up with Robinson on the US Men’s National Team side on September 5th. Best of luck to Tajon and we will watch his career with great interest.