Nathaniel Mark "Natty" James (born 17 June 2004) is a Trinidadian footballer who currently plays for MLS Next Pro side North Texas SC and the Trinidad and Tobago national team.
James 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 F.A.. He made his professional debut with Trinidadian club W Connection F.C. in 2020 at the age of 15. He moved to the United States by joining USL League One side Portland Hearts of Pine in 2025, winning the league's Goal of the Year award in his sole season with the club. He moved to North Texas SC in 2026.
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 Jamaica Premier League side Mount Pleasant F.A. and played for them from 2023 to 2025. He joined Portland Hearts of Pine in 2025, ahead of their inaugural season in USL League One. He made his debut for the Hearts of Pine in a 2–1 defeat to Rhode Island FC in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, and scored his first goal for the club in his League One debut against Union Omaha on May 10, 2025. His goal came just minutes after being substituted on, and drew the Hearts level in a match that finished 2–2. He scored a brace in a 6–1 victory over Spokane Velocity on 21 October, the first of which was voted as the 2025 USL League One Goal of the Year.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, James left the Hearts of Pine and joined North Texas SC, the MLS Next Pro affiliate of Major League Soccer team FC Dallas. He scored a hat trick for North Texas SC on 17 May in a 5–1 win over Sporting Kansas City II.
National team career James scored four times in as many appearances in the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. He was subsequently called up to Trinidad and Tobago's senior team, and scored on his debut against Curaçao.
James was named to Trinidad and Tobago's squad for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Career statistics International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsTrinidad and Tobago2023522024512025113Total216
Scores and results list Trinidad and Tobago's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each James goal. + List of international goals scored by Nathaniel JamesNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago1–01–02023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A2Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago3–23–22023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A3SKNFA Technical Center, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis7–07–12026 FIFA World Cup qualification4Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Trinidad and Tobago4–04–02025 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification5Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago6–26–22026 FIFA World Cup qualification6Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago2–22–22026 FIFA World Cup qualification
Honours
Individual
Club Sando F.C.
TT Premier Football League Golden Boot: 2023
Portland Hearts of Pine
USL League One Goal of the Year: 2025
References
External links Profile at Portland Hearts of Pine Profile in National Football Teams Profile at Trinidad and Tobago Football Association