Yutaro Tsukada

Yutaro Tsukada (born 28 July 2001) is a Japanese footballer who plays for MLS Next Pro club Orlando City B.

Yutaro Tsukada
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-07-28) 28 July 2001
Place of birth Tokyo, Japan
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Orlando City B)
Number 34
Youth career
FC Tokyo
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Daytona State Falcons 24 (26)
2022–2023 West Virginia Mountaineers 40 (13)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 New Mexico United U23 4 (3)
2023 Capital FC
2024– Orlando City B 8 (3)
2024 → Orlando City (loan) 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 May 2024

Early life

Tsukada was born in Tokyo, Japan.[1] He played youth football with FC Tokyo.[2]

College career

In 2020, Tsukada began attending Daytona State College in the United States.[3] On 11 September 2021, he scored a hat trick in a 4–2 victory over the Georgia Military College Bulldogs.[4] At the end of his sophomore season, he was named to the USC First Team All-America, the NJCAA DI All-American Team, Junior College Division I Men All-East Region, and the Region 8 All-Region Team and the Region 8 Player of the Year.[5][6] He departed the school holding 6 school records - most goals in a season (20), most goals in 2 seasons (26), most hat tricks (4), fastest goal in school history (32 seconds), most free kicks scored (4), and most points (63).[5]

In 2022, he transferred to West Virginia University to play for the men's soccer team in NCAA Division I.[7] He made his debut on August 25 against the Robert Morris Colonials.[8] On October 11, 2022, he scored his first goal in a victory over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks.[9] In October 2023, he was named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week and the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week,[10][11] and earned WVU Student-Athlete of the Week honors a second time in November.[12] At the end of his senior season, he was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team, Sun Belt All-Tournament Team, All-Southeast Region First Team, Scholar All-South Region First Team, TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Second Team, All-America Third Team, and the College Soccer News All-America Second Team.[13][14][15][16]

Club career

In 2022, Tsukada joined New Mexico United U23 in USL League Two.[17] In 2023, he played with Capital FC.[18]

At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Tsukada was selected in the first round (25th overall) by Orlando City SC.[19][20] In March 2024, he signed a one-year contract with the reserve affiliate, Orlando City B, in MLS Next Pro.[21][22] On 16 March 2024, he made his professional debut, scoring a free kick in a 3–2 victory over Atlanta United 2.[23] In May 2024, Tsukada signed two short-term loans with the first team.[24][25] He made his Major League Soccer debut on 15 May 2024 in a substitute appearance against Inter Miami CF.[26]

Career statistics
As of 15 May 2024[27]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
New Mexico United U23 2022[28] USL League Two 43–––43
Orlando City B 2024 MLS Next Pro 8300––83
Orlando City (loan) 2024 Major League Soccer 1 0 – – – 1 0
Career total 136000000136

References
  1. Zeaman, Zach (15 September 2023). "Meet WVU men's soccer's dynamic duo". The Daily Athenaeum.
  2. Citro, Michael (15 March 2024). "Orlando City Signs Draft Pick Yutaro Tsukada to MLS NEXT Pro Contract". The Mane Land.
  3. "Yutaro Tsukada Daytona State profile". Daytona State College.
  4. "Tsukada Picks up Hat Trick in 4-2 Victory over Georgia Military College". Daytona State College. 14 September 2021.
  5. "Spotlight Player of the Year: Yutaro Tsukada". Daytona State College.
  6. "The NJCAA and the United Soccer Coaches Announced the All-American Teams for Fall 2021". Daytona State College. 24 January 2022.
  7. Mitchin, Joe (8 June 2022). "Stratford Completes 2022 Class". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  8. Mitchin, Joe (25 August 2022). "No. 6 WVU Wins Season Opener". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  9. Mitchin, Joe (11 October 2022). "WVU Strolls to Second Straight Win". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  10. "Tsukada Named Student-Athlete of the Week". West Virginia Mountaineers. 2 October 2023.
  11. Grossman, Adam (3 October 2023). "Tsukada Named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  12. "Tsukada Named Student-Athlete of the Week". West Virginia Mountaineers. 6 November 2023.
  13. "Yutaro Tsukada WVU profile". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  14. Grossman, Adam (8 December 2023). "Caldeira, Tsukada Named United Soccer Coaches All-Americans". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  15. Grossman, Adam (15 December 2023). "Tsukada, Lee Named Scholar All-Americans". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  16. Grossman, Adam (19 December 2023). "Caldeira, Tsukada Collect National Honors". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  17. "New Mexico United U-23 Announces Three Signings to Inaugural Roster". New Mexico United. 24 May 2022.
  18. "50 players selected in 2023 MLS SuperDraft". USL League Two. 20 December 2023.
  19. Trinone, Anjelica (19 December 2023). "Yutaro Tsukada drafted in first round of MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City". WBOY-TV.
  20. Rollins, Sean (19 December 2023). "2024 MLS Draft: Orlando City Selects Winger Yutaro Tsukada at No. 25 Overall". The Mane Land.
  21. "Orlando City B signs MLS SuperDraft selection Yutaro Tsukada". Orlando City SC. 15 March 2024.
  22. Redfern, Kevin (15 March 2024). "Former WVU soccer forward Yutaro Tsukada signs with Orlando City B of MLS Next Pro". WTRF-TV.
  23. "Match Report: Orlando City B wins season opener 3-2 against Atlanta United 2". Orlando City SC. 16 March 2024.
  24. "Orlando City SC signs Yutaro Tsukada to short-term MLS agreement". Orlando City SC. 11 May 2024.
  25. "Orlando City SC signs Yutaro Tsukada to short-term MLS agreement". Orlando City SC. 15 May 2024.
  26. "Match report: Orlando City SC plays to scoreless draw against Inter Miami CF". Orlando City SC. 15 May 2024.
  27. Yutaro Tsukada at Soccerway
  28. "Yutaro Tsukada 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
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