Nathaniel James (footballer)

Nathaniel "Natty" James (born 17 June 2004) is a Trinidadian footballer who currently plays for the USL League One team Portland Hearts of Pine and the Trinidad and Tobago national team. He won the TT Premier Football League Golden Boot in 2023 with Club Sando F.C., scoring 15 goals in 22 appearances, and has previously played professionally for Jamaica Premier League side Mount Pleasant Football Academy. He made his professional debut with Trinidadian club W Connection F.C. in 2020 at the age of 15.

Born in Port of Spain, James was raised in La Horquetta where his father Mark trained him to become a professional footballer. As a youth, James attended Trinidad's prestigious Queen's Royal College and played for their football team.

Club career

As a youth, he started his career in the academy of San Juan Jabloteh F.C. After studying at Queen's Royal College and playing for their football team, James signed a professional deal with TT Premier Football League team W Connection F.C.. At the age of 15 in 2020, he made a handful of appearances for W Connection's first team and scored a goal before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago.

He moved to Club Sando F.C. for the 2023 TT Premier Football League season, where he won the newly-established league's inaugural Golden Boot, scoring 15 times in 22 appearances.

After his season with Club Sando, James moved to Jamaican Premier League side Mount Pleasant Football Academy and played for them from 2023 to 2025. He joined Portland Hearts of Pine in 2025, ahead of their inaugural season.

National team career

James scored four times in as many appearances in the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. He was subsequently called up to the senior team, and scored on his debut against Curaçao.