Toronto FC II forward Jayden Nelson was on Tuesday named the 2019 Canadian Youth International Player of the Year. | Photo courtesy Lucas Kschischang / Toronto FC II
TORONTO – Toronto FC II forward Jayden Nelson was unveiled on Tuesday as the 2019 Canadian Youth International Player of the Year by Canada Soccer. The 17-year-old is the first Toronto FC player to win the award.
Nelson represented the Canadian U-17 National Team at the Concacaf Men’s U-17 Championship, where he scored five goals (including a hat trick against Guatemala) in six appearances as Canada qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time since 2013. At the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil, Nelson appeared in all three of Canada’s contests and was selected as Canada’s Player of the Match vs. New Zealand, in the team’s final Group A match.
Nelson appeared in 14 matches for Toronto FC II during the 2019 USL League One regular season and recorded three assists and 11 chances created. He made his professional debut on April 6, 2019, when he came off the bench against Orlando City B.