Kadeisha Buchanan

Early career

In 2013, Buchanan played four games for the Toronto Lady Lynx, a USL W-League team. In 2014, she played a game for the Ottawa Fury, also in the W-League, right before they folded. In June 2016, Buchanan signed with Vaughan Azzurri of League1 Ontario to get game action prior to the 2016 Rio Olympics. She only played one game, however––a 9–0 win over Darby.

Lyon

Upon graduating from West Virginia University, Buchanan was a highly rated prospect prior to the 2017 NWSL College Draft. In December 2016, she was being linked with a move to Europe, along with fellow Canadian team member Ashley Lawrence. In January 2017, it was announced that Buchanan had signed with Olympique Lyonnais of Division 1. In June 2018, Buchanan would sign a three-year contract extension which would keep her with Lyon until 2022.

Chelsea

On June 10, 2022, Chelsea confirmed the signing of Buchanan on a three-year deal. On April 17, 2024, Buchanan scored her first goal for Chelsea, scoring from a corner in a 3–0 win against Aston Villa in the WSL. She made her 50th appearance for the club during a 2–1 win over Arsenal in October 2024. On 16 November 2024, it was confirmed Buchanan had suffered an ACL injury, during a game against Liverpool on 10 November. Buchanan signed a contract extension with Chelsea on April 15, 2025, keeping her with the club to 2027. On February 22, 2026, following 429 days of recovery from her ACL injury, Buchanan made her return to play,…

Buchanan was 14 years old when she was recruited to the Canadian youth program in 2010. She won a silver medal at the 2012 CONCACAF W U-17 Championship in Guatemala. When she was called up to the Canadian women's national team on January 12, 2013, against China while still in high school, Buchanan became one of the youngest players on any women's national team. Buchanan scored her first international goal against the United States on May 8, 2014, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in front of the second largest crowd to ever watch a women's soccer game in Canada. The game ended in a 1–1 draw. Buchanan was also named Canada's Under-20 Women's Player of the Year in 2013, and anchored the host nation's defence at the 2014 Women's U-20 World Cup Canada in 2014. In 2015, Buchanan established herself as one of the best defenders in the world, winning the Young Player Award in the 2015 FIFA World Cup, as well as being named Canadian Women's Player of the Year, and being nominated for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or. Buchanan was part of the Canada squad which won bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Buchanan was part of the squad for the 2019 Algarve Cup. On May 25, 2019, Buchanan was named to the roster for the 2019 FIFA World Cup. She scored the winner in Canada's opening game at the tournament, a 1–0 group stage win over Cameroon. On February 9, 2020, Buchanan played her 100th match for Canada in a 0–3 loss against the United States. Buchanan was called up to the Canada squad for the delayed 2020…

In November 2025, it was announced that Buchanan would be launching a foundation, after having been selected by FIFA for funding, which would provide support for girls from single-parent families to play and pursue their aspirations in soccer. The KB3 Foundation was launched in February 2026, targeting financial support and mentorship to girls aged 12 to 16.

Born in Toronto and raised in Brampton, Ontario, Buchanan is the youngest of seven girls (ten siblings total) in a single-parent home. Buchanan's parents are originally from Jamaica; her father was born in Saint Thomas Parish and her mother in Montego Bay. Kadeisha grew up in the greater Toronto area, specifically Brampton and Mississauga. Buchanan attended Cardinal Leger Secondary School, where she played flag football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer. She was enrolled in general studies and earned a place on the Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll. Buchanan played college soccer at West Virginia University, for the Mountaineers, where she co-captained the team, qualified for the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, and won numerous more accolades.