Aryantaj Tajbakhsh (born 20 October 1990) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder.
Club career Tajbakhsh, who was known as Aryan Taj early in his career, was in the youth team at Kentish Town before joining Northwood. He signed for Barnet at the start of the 2008–09 season and appeared on the bench for first team games, but did not play. Later that season he played for Potters Bar Town and Maidenhead United, before moving to Turkey to play for Antalyaspor in the Süper Lig. Tajbakhsh never played for the first team, but he did play 12 times for the reserves in A2 Ligi, before a spell on loan at Yalovaspor (TFF Third League) and then Pendikspor (TFF Second League). Tajbakhsh then played for Braintree Town, Billericay Town, Harrow Borough, Farnborough, Maidenhead United, Walton & Hersham, Potters Bar Town, St Albans City, Aveley, Cheshunt, Ware, VCD Athletic, Enfield Town, Hendon and Cray Wanderers. While at Enfield Town, Tajbakhsh played in matches while suspended, leading to a three-point deduction for Town which led them to miss out on the Isthmian League playoffs in 2014–15, despite Town identifying that Aryan's former clubs had not correctly reported his personal details when informing the FA of bookings incurred when he was playing for them.
Tajbakhsh joined Crawley Town on 12 July 2016, and made his professional debut for Crawley on 30 August 2016, in an EFL Trophy match against Colchester United. On 17 February 2017, Tajbakhsh joined National League South side Wealdstone on a 28-day loan. A day later, he scored on his Wealdstone debut in their 1–0 victory over Margate, netting in the 45th minute. On 17 March 2017, his loan spell at Wealdstone was extended for a further month. Tajbakhsh left Crawley at the end of his contract in June 2018. He rejoined Braintree on trial in July 2018, scoring twice in a pre-season win over Ipswich Town. He signed for Dover Athletic in August 2018. He moved to Maidstone United in November 2018, and to Dulwich Hamlet in February 2019. Tajbakhsh joined Potters Bar Town in August 2021, before joining Kings Langley in February 2022. In August 2023, Tajbakhsh agreed terms with Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division club FC Romania, making his debut for the Wolves in an FA Cup First Round Qualifying tie as a 45th minute sub in a 5-2 victory away to Colney Heath.
International career Tajbakhsh was called up to the Barawa football team for the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup.
Personal life Tajbakhsh is of Turkish and Iranian descent. His brother Noyan (born 1996) is also a footballer and was in the youth team at Fenerbahçe.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNorthwood2007–08Isthmian League Division One North1000—00102008–09Isthmian League Division One North5000—0050Total6000—0060Barnet2008–09League Two0000001010Maidenhead United2009–10Conference South6010—2090Yalovaspor (loan)2010–11TFF Third League16000—00160St Albans City2013–14Southern League Premier Division5000—0050Aveley2013–14Isthmian League Division One North12100—20141Ware2013–14Isthmian League Division One North8100—0081VCD Athletic2014–15Isthmian League Premier Division5000—0050Enfield Town2014–15Isthmian League Premier Division12100—001212015–16Isthmian League Premier Division4000—1050Total16100—10171Hendon2015–16Isthmian League Premier Division1010—0020Cray Wanderers2015–16Isthmian League Division One North27500—10285Crawley Town2016–17League Two40100040902017–18League Two170101030220Total210201070310Wealdstone (loan)2016–17National League South11200—00112Dover Athletic2018–19National League7000—0070Maidstone United2018–19National League12020—60190Dulwich Hamlet2018–19National League South11100—00111Potters Bar Town2021–22Isthmian League Premier Division18010—30220Kings Langley2021–22SFL Premier Division South1000—0010Career total19112801025122413
References