FRISCO, Texas (Jan. 23, 2026) – North Texas SC announced today the signing of free agent midfielder Nathaniel “Natty” James to a one-year contract with a club option for 2027, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“Nathaniel is an exciting addition to our team”, North Texas SC head coach John Gall said. “He’s a talented attacking player that already has full international experience with Trinidad and Tobago. He’s a player that fits well into our system of attractive attacking football and we are looking forward to him having a big impact in MLS NEXT Pro. Our goal is to push him into the first team and beyond, and his competitive nature will give him every chance.”
James signed with USL League one side Portland Hearts of Pine on March 10, 2025 and made 22 appearances, scoring three goals and three assists. He helped Hearts of Pine reach the USL League One semifinal in their inaugural season and won the fan vote for the 2025 USL League One Goal of the Year.
Prior to Hearts of Pine, James played for Jamaican first division side Mount Pleasant FA. He made his club debut on Oct. 22, 2023, and helped Mount Pleasant win its first championship in club history the following year. From 2023-2025, James made 34 appearances and recorded two assists across all competitions.
In 2023, the Trinidadian midfielder moved to Club Sando F.C. He made 22 appearances and scored 15 goals, claiming the inaugural Golden Boot in the Trinidad & Tobago Premier Football League.
A product of the W Connection F.C. Academy, He made his professional debut with the club on Jan. 4, 2020, at age 15 and signed his first professional contract in 2023.
Internationally, the 21-year-old represents Trinidad and Tobago. James made his international debut in the Concacaf U-20 Championship in 2022, scoring four goals and registering three assists, helping Trinidad and Tobago reach the Round of 16. He made his senior team debut in the Concacaf Nations League against Curaçao on Sept. 7, 2023, and scored the game-winning goal becoming the fourth-youngest player to score in the nation’s history (19 years, 2 months, and 22 days). James has 21 caps and six goals, across numerous Concacaf competitions, including Nations League, Gold Cup, and FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with the Soca Warriors.
TRANSACTION DETAILS
Full Name: Nathaniel Mark James
Preferred Name: Natty James
Connect with Natty: Instagram
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: June 17, 2004 (21)
Birthplace: Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Nationality: Trinidad and Tobago
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 132 lbs
Last Club: Portland Hearts of Pine
Transaction: North Texas SC signs Nathaniel James to an MLS NEXT Pro contract through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027.
