D. J. Taylor (soccer)
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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Justin Taylor | ||
| Date of birth | August 26, 1997 | ||
| 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 | 57 | (1) |
| 2022– | Minnesota United 2 | 2 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2015 | United States U18 | 2 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 30, 2023 | |||
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]
| 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
- "David Justin Taylor". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- "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.
- "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.
- "North Carolina vs. Jacksonville Armada 2 - 2". Soccerway. August 13, 2017. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023.
- D. J. Taylor at Soccerway
- 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.
- Bogert, Tom (February 16, 2021). "Minnesota United sign former US youth international defender DJ Taylor". Major League Soccer. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- "Minnesota United vs. SJ Earthquakes 2 - 2". Soccerway. July 4, 2021. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023.