Jacob Shaffelburg Bio
Jacob Everett Shaffelburg is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Nashville SC and the Canada men’s national team. Born on November 26, 1999, in Kentville, Nova Scotia, he has built a reputation for his pace, direct running, and ability to stretch opposing defenses. Standing 178 cm tall, Shaffelburg has earned the playful nickname Maritime Messi in recognition of his Nova Scotia roots and attacking style.
After progressing through Canadian and American youth systems, Shaffelburg signed his first professional contract with Toronto FC II in late 2018 and has since developed into a regular contributor at the MLS level. He won the 2017–18 Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Soccer Player of the Year award during his time at the Berkshire School. His professional career has included domestic titles at club level and major tournament experience with Canada’s senior team, including appearances at the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2024 Copa América.
Early Life and Background
Jacob Shaffelburg grew up in Kentville, Nova Scotia, where he first developed his love for soccer. He played youth soccer for Valley United SC and Team Nova Scotia before joining FC Nashville Heroes in 2012. With that club, he participated in the 2012 U.S. Club Soccer National Cup, an early signal of his competitive promise. In January 2014, he briefly trained with the Sporting Kansas City Academy, spending a month with the program and continuing to develop his game.
During his middle school years, Shaffelburg also stood out in cross country running and track and field, winning the NSSAF junior boys 3000m in June 2014 with a sub-ten-minute performance. Although college scouts speculated about his potential in distance running, his focus returned to soccer. At age 15, he moved to the United States to attend the Berkshire School in Massachusetts, where he played for a highly regarded soccer program and helped the team win a fifth NEPSAC title in seven years during his senior season in 2018.
While living in the United States, Shaffelburg also turned out for Manhattan SC, helping the side win the U.S. Club Soccer U-16 National Championship in 2016. In November 2018, after earlier considering a scholarship at the University of Virginia, he signed his first professional contract with Toronto FC II and began the 2019 season in USL League One. He had also featured briefly for Toronto FC III in League1 Ontario in 2017 and for HFX Wanderers FC Atlantic Selects in a 2018 friendly against Fortuna Düsseldorf’s U-21 side, scoring a goal in that match.
Path to Soccer
Shaffelburg’s pathway to professional soccer moved steadily from local Nova Scotia clubs toward elite American academy environments. His time at the Berkshire School sharpened his tactical awareness and exposed him to high-level competition, while his appearances with Manhattan SC added tournament experience at a national level. The combination of school soccer and club soccer helped him attract professional attention.
In 2018, he played with Black Rock FC in the USL Premier Development League and finished as the team’s leading scorer with eight goals, tied with Ifunanyachi Achara. Later that year, he joined the Toronto FC Academy, which had been developing his profile since 2016. The decision to forego a University of Virginia scholarship and sign a professional contract with Toronto FC II marked the formal start of his senior career and set the stage for his rapid rise into the Toronto FC first team.
Jacob Shaffelburg Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Shaffelburg’s earliest senior minutes came in 2017 when he played a match for Toronto FC III in League1 Ontario. He spent the 2018 season split between Berkshire School soccer, a Toronto FC Academy pathway, and a developmental stint with Black Rock FC in the PDL. That summer, he also appeared for HFX Wanderers FC Atlantic Selects against Fortuna Düsseldorf’s U-21 team and scored a goal in the friendly.
By November 2018, he committed to a professional contract with Toronto FC II, and in February 2019 he made his first appearance for Toronto FC in the CONCACAF Champions League. The early stretch established him as a quick, attack-minded winger capable of contributing in senior competition at a young age.
Toronto FC Era (2019–2022)
Shaffelburg signed with Toronto FC as a Homegrown Player on June 21, 2019, and made his MLS debut the following day, playing 31 minutes against FC Dallas. Four days later, on June 26, he earned his first start at BMO Field, recording an assist in a 3–2 win over Atlanta United FC and helping set up the fastest goal in TFC history just 29 seconds into the match. The strong start earned praise from the coaching staff for his pace and directness.
He scored his first Toronto FC goal on May 15, 2021, finishing in the 74th minute of a 1–1 draw with New York City FC. Throughout his time in Toronto, Shaffelburg split seasons between the MLS squad and Toronto FC II, where he was loaned on September 3, 2021, and again briefly in 2022. Toronto exercised his option for the 2022 campaign before completing a loan move to Nashville SC later that year.
Nashville SC Era (2022–Present)
In August 2022, Shaffelburg joined Nashville SC on loan for the remainder of the MLS season, with Nashville holding an option to make the move permanent in 2023. He debuted on August 21 against FC Dallas and scored a goal in a 4–0 victory, marking an immediate impact at his new club.
After the 2022 season, Nashville exercised the purchase option and signed Shaffelburg to a four-year contract extension running through 2026, with a club option for 2027. The deal underlined the club’s confidence in his long-term role on the wing and ensured his MLS future remained tied to Nashville.
Driving Style and Strengths
Shaffelburg is best known for his pace and willingness to run directly at defenders, allowing him to stretch backlines and create space for teammates. His game emphasizes vertical dribbling, width in attack, and quick combinations in the final third. Coaches have consistently highlighted his work rate and ability to recover defensively, making him a two-way option on the flank.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Shaffelburg scored a debut goal for Nashville SC in a 4–0 win over FC Dallas on August 21, 2022, and registered his first Toronto FC goal in a 1–1 draw with New York City FC on May 15, 2021. On the international stage, he scored his first Canada goal in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final against the United States and netted against Venezuela in the 2024 Copa América quarter-final. He also assisted Jonathan David’s historic opener against Peru, Canada’s first-ever goal and win at a Copa América tournament.
International Career
Shaffelburg received his first senior international call-up to Canada on January 3, 2020, for matches against Barbados and Iceland. He made his debut as a substitute against Barbados on January 10, 2020. Earlier, he had been named to the Canadian U-23 provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship on February 26, 2020.
In June 2023, he was called up to Canada’s squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he scored his first senior international goal in the quarter-final against the United States. In June 2024, he was named to Canada’s 26-man roster for the 2024 Copa América, contributing an assist to Canada’s first-ever tournament goal against Peru and a goal in the quarter-final win over Venezuela, before Canada was eliminated in the semi-finals by Argentina.
Jacob Shaffelburg Career Wins
Across his club career, Shaffelburg has lifted domestic silverware as part of winning squads, and his personal accolades include the 2017–18 Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Soccer Player of the Year award. His contributions have ranged from goal-scoring bursts at Nashville SC to assist-driven displays with Toronto FC, reflecting his development into a reliable attacking option.
Major League Soccer Highlights
Since his 2019 MLS debut, Shaffelburg has registered goals and assists for both Toronto FC and Nashville SC. His first MLS start came on June 26, 2019, in a 3–2 home win over Atlanta United FC, where he set up the fastest goal in Toronto FC history. His first MLS goal arrived on May 15, 2021, against New York City FC, and he added another milestone debut goal for Nashville SC against FC Dallas on August 21, 2022.
Other Wins & Performances
Before turning professional, Shaffelburg helped Berkshire School win a fifth NEPSAC title in seven years in 2018 and won the U.S. Club Soccer U-16 National Championship with Manhattan SC in 2016. He was also the joint leading scorer for Black Rock FC in the 2018 Premier Development League season with eight goals.
Jacob Shaffelburg Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Shaffelburg was raised in Kentville, Nova Scotia, where his early soccer development took place with Valley United SC and Team Nova Scotia. Public information about his immediate family members and parents remains limited.
Personal Life
Shaffelburg has been nicknamed Maritime Messi, a reference to his Nova Scotia origins and attacking playing style. He has been based in the United States and Canada during his development and professional career, and his listed residence aligns with his club commitments at Nashville SC. Further personal details about his relationships and family life have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 MLS campaign, Jacob Shaffelburg remains under contract with Nashville SC through at least 2026, with a club option for 2027. His attacking role on the wing and the confidence shown by the club’s long-term deal point to an expectation of continued minutes and production throughout the season.
Internationally, Shaffelburg’s strong showings at the 2024 Copa América, where he recorded a goal and an assist in Canada’s historic run to the semi-finals, have kept him in contention for the national team setup in 2025. His blend of pace, direct dribbling, and willingness to contribute defensively continues to make him a versatile option for the Canadian national team as it builds toward upcoming qualifying matches and tournaments.