Kadeisha Buchanan

Kadeisha Buchanan (born November 5, 1995) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for English Women's Super League club Chelsea and the Canada women's national team.

Born in Toronto and raised in Brampton, Ontario, she is the youngest of seven girls in a single-parent home.

Buchanan was 14 years old when she was recruited to the Canadian youth program in 2010.

She won a silver medal at the 2012 CONCACAF W U-17 Championship in Guatemala.

Buchanan was only 17 when she made her debut for the national team on January 13, 2013.

In 2013, Buchanan played four games for the Toronto Lady Lynx, a USL W-League team.

When she was called up to the Canadian women's national team on January 12, 2013, against China while still in high school, Buchanan became one of the youngest players on any women's national team.

Buchanan was also named Canada's Under-20 Women's Player of the Year in 2013, and anchored the host nation's defence at the 2014 Women's U-20 World Cup Canada in 2014.

In 2014, she played a game for the Ottawa Fury Women, as well as in the W-League, right before they folded.

Buchanan scored her first international goal against the United States on May 8, 2014, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in front of the second largest crowd to ever watch a women's soccer game in Canada.

The game ended in a 1–1 draw.

Buchanan is a three-time Canadian Player of the Year, winning the award in the years of 2015, 2017, and 2020.

At the 2015 Women's World Cup, she won the FIFA Young Player Award.

Born in Toronto and raised in Brampton, Ontario, Buchanan is the youngest of seven girls (ten siblings total) in a single-parent home.

Buchanan's parents are originally from Jamaica, her father was born in Saint Thomas Parish and her mother in Montego Bay.

Kadeisha grew up in the greater Toronto area, specifically Brampton and Mississauga.

Buchanan attended Cardinal Leger Secondary School, where she played flag football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer.

She was enrolled in general studies and earned a place on the Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll.

Buchanan played college soccer at West Virginia University, for the Mountaineers, where she co-captained the team, qualified for the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, and won numerous more accolades.

In 2015, Buchanan established herself as one of the best defenders in the world, winning the Young Player Award in the 2015 FIFA World Cup, as well as being named Canadian Women's Player of the Year, and being nominated for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or.

In June 2016, Buchanan signed with Vaughan Azzurri of League1 Ontario to get game action prior to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

She only played one game, however––a 9–0 win over Darby.

In December 2016, she was being linked with a move to Europe, along with fellow Canadian team member Ashley Lawrence.

Upon graduating from West Virginia University, Buchanan was a highly rated prospect prior to the 2017 NWSL College Draft.

In January 2017, it was announced that Buchanan had signed with Olympique Lyonnais of Division 1.

In June 2018, Buchanan would sign a three-year contract extension which would keep her with Lyon until 2022.

On June 10, 2022, Chelsea confirmed the signing of Buchanan on a three year deal.

On May 25, 2019, she was named to the roster for the 2019 FIFA World Cup.

On February 9, 2020, Buchanan played her 100th match for Canada in a 0–3 loss against the United States.

Olympique Lyonnais

Chelsea

Canada U17

Canada

Individual