Tajon Buchanan had a statement performance for Villarreal, scoring a hat trick in their 5-0 victory over Girona in a La Liga match on Sunday.
Buchanan became just the second Canadian player to score a hat-trick in Europe's top five leagues after Jonathan David did with Lille in Ligue 1.
It was the first start of the season for Buchanan with Villarreal, who scored his first goal in the 15th minute off a nice move around the defender and put the shot in the top of the net.
Buchanan would put his club up 4-0 as he received a pass in the box and had enough room to get it in.
He scored his third goal of the game in the 63rd minute as his shot went off the hands of the goalkeeper and into the net.
The Spanish club secured the services of the Brampton, Ont., native after he joined on Feb. 1 on a season-long loan. Villarreal then agreed to a five-year deal to make the move permanent.
The 26-year-old made history as the first Canadian goal-scorer in Serie A when he scored off the bench in May 2024 in a 5-0 win over Frosinone.
