D. J. Taylor (soccer)

D. J. Taylor
Personal information
Full name David Justin Taylor
Date of birth (1997-08-26) August 26, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Position(s) Full-back
Team information
Current team
 Minnesota United
Number 27
Youth career
2010–2013 CASL Chelsea
2012–2015 North Carolina FC Youth
2015–2016 Torre Levante
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Torre Levante
2017 Buñol
2017–2020 North Carolina FC 83 (1)
2021– Minnesota United 88 (1)
2022– Minnesota United 2 4 (0)
International career
2015 United States U18 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 20, 2024

David Justin Taylor (born August 26, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a full-back for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United.

Club career

Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Taylor spent four years with CASL Chelsea before joining the academy system at North Carolina FC, then named Carolina RailHawks.[2] He signed an amateur contract with the RailHawks first-team in May 2015 but did not make an appearance before moving abroad.[2]

Later that year, Taylor signed with Spanish Tercera División Torre Levante and joined their youth side.[2] He then joined Buñol in 2017.[3]

North Carolina FC

On July 27, 2017, Taylor returned to the United States and signed a professional contract with North Carolina FC in the North American Soccer League.[2] A few days prior to signing, Taylor had appeared for North Carolina FC in a friendly against Swansea City as a guest player.[2] He made his debut for the club on August 13 against the Jacksonville Armada. He started and played 65 minutes as North Carolina FC drew the match 2–2.[4]

After appearing in just two matches for the side in 2017, Taylor established himself as the starting right-back for the club's debut season in the USL Championship, playing 32 matches.[5] He started 33 matches the following season.[5] On January 6, 2020, Taylor signed a contract extension with the club, keeping him with North Carolina FC for a fourth season.[6]

Minnesota United

On February 16, 2021, Taylor joined Major League Soccer (MLS) club Minnesota United.[7] He made his debut for the club on July 3, 2021, coming on as a substitute in a 2–2 home draw against the San Jose Earthquakes.[8] He scored his first MLS goal against FC Dallas on May 22, 2022.

International

In 2015, Taylor made two appearances for the United States under-18 side in the Copa Chivas Tournament, scoring one goal.[2]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played on May 24, 2023[5]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
North Carolina FC 2017 North American Soccer League 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0
2018 United Soccer League 32 0 3 0 — — 35 0
2019 USL Championship 34 0 3 1 — — 37 1
2020 USL Championship 15 1 — — — — 15 1
Total 83 1 6 1 0 0 89 2
Minnesota United 2021 Major League Soccer 8 0 0 0 — — 8 0
2022 Major League Soccer 27 1 3 0 — — 30 0
2023 Major League Soccer 11 3 3 0 — — 14 0
Total 46 1 6 0 0 0 52 1
Career total 129 2 12 1 0 0 135 3

References

  1. ^ "David Justin Taylor". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Former Academy Standout D.J. Taylor Returns Home". North Carolina FC. July 27, 2017. Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  3. ^ "David Jason "DJ" Taylor: His Story to be a professional player: Spanish Pro Football Academy". Spanish Pro Football. June 27, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "North Carolina vs. Jacksonville Armada 2 - 2". Soccerway. August 13, 2017. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c D. J. Taylor at Soccerway
  6. ^ Communications (January 6, 2020). "Raleigh Native DJ Taylor Returning to NCFC for Fourth Straight Season". North Carolina FC. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020.
  7. ^ Bogert, Tom (February 16, 2021). "Minnesota United sign former US youth international defender DJ Taylor". Major League Soccer. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  8. ^ "Minnesota United vs. SJ Earthquakes 2 - 2". Soccerway. July 4, 2021. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023.