The Canadian Messi Has Arrived in La Liga
Meme Context
That’s right — as seen in the meme, Lamine Yamal is no longer the best right winger in La Liga… because Tajon Buchanan has arrived. It was made official on July 29, 2025, that the 25-year-old Canadian international will be joining Villarreal CF from Inter Milan for a fee of €9 million (rising to €12 million with add-ons).
Now, I won’t go as far as to claim that Buchanan is better than Lamine Yamal, but I’m confident he’ll show his quality in La Liga (as he’s already done briefly) and become a true competitor to Yamal in the league.
Tajon Buchanan at Inter Milan
Buchanan’s time in Italy wasn’t ideal, but there’s still a lot to be excited about when it comes to him as a talent — and this transfer. He joined Inter in January 2024 but only featured in 17 matches (16 in Serie A, 1 in Coppa Italia), starting just once — in the Coppa Italia — and scoring a single goal during his time there.
Injuries and limited playing time made his spell in Milan a frustrating one. But halfway through the 2024/25 season, Buchanan was loaned out to Villarreal — and that’s where things began to turn around.
Loan Spell and Breakthrough
During his loan at Villarreal, Buchanan made 13 appearances, starting four of them. He chipped in with two assists and a memorable goal in Villarreal’s 3-2 win over Barcelona. His pace, versatility, and direct play clearly impressed the club, and Villarreal decided to make the move permanent.
Following that, Buchanan carried his momentum into the 2025 Gold Cup, where he ended up as Canada’s top goal scorer.
(For more on that, check out: https://cafeterodelnorte.com/top-5-canadian-players-gold-cup-2025/)
Final Thoughts
This is a fantastic move for Tajon Buchanan. He’s joining a strong side in a top league and will be competing in next year’s Champions League. His loan spell already hinted at what he’s capable of, and with more matches across more competitions, there’s a real chance he’ll deliver something special.
Who knows — maybe he will outshine Lamine Yamal.
What do you think?
Do you like this move? Can Tajon Buchanan really outperform Lamine Yamal next season? Drop your thoughts in the comments below
for more on this transfer read: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/tajon-buchanan-permanent-transfer-villareal-1.7596507
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