Yutaro Tsukada (塚田 裕太郎, Tsukada Yutaro, born 28 July 2001) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Orlando City.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 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 | ||
| 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 | 22 | (7) |
| 2024 | → Orlando City (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | Orlando City | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 October 2024 | |||
Early life
editTsukada was born in Tokyo, Japan.[1] He played youth football with FC Tokyo.[2]
College career
editIn 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
editIn 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] On 15 August 2024, Tsukada signed a contract with the first team through 2025, with Club options in 2026 and 2027.[27]
Career statistics
edit- As of 20 October 2024[28]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| New Mexico United U23 | 2022[29] | USL League Two | 4 | 3 | – | – | – | 4 | 3 | |||
| Orlando City B | 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 22 | 7 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 23 | 7 | ||
| Orlando City (loan) | 2024 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Orlando City | 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 29 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 10 | ||
- ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup
References
edit- ^ Zeaman, Zach (15 September 2023). "Meet WVU men's soccer's dynamic duo". The Daily Athenaeum.
- ^ Citro, Michael (15 March 2024). "Orlando City Signs Draft Pick Yutaro Tsukada to MLS NEXT Pro Contract". The Mane Land.
- ^ "Yutaro Tsukada Daytona State profile". Daytona State College.
- ^ "Tsukada Picks up Hat Trick in 4-2 Victory over Georgia Military College". Daytona State College. 14 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Spotlight Player of the Year: Yutaro Tsukada". Daytona State College.
- ^ "The NJCAA and the United Soccer Coaches Announced the All-American Teams for Fall 2021". Daytona State College. 24 January 2022.
- ^ Mitchin, Joe (8 June 2022). "Stratford Completes 2022 Class". West Virginia Mountaineers.
- ^ Mitchin, Joe (25 August 2022). "No. 6 WVU Wins Season Opener". West Virginia Mountaineers.
- ^ Mitchin, Joe (11 October 2022). "WVU Strolls to Second Straight Win". West Virginia Mountaineers.
- ^ "Tsukada Named Student-Athlete of the Week". West Virginia Mountaineers. 2 October 2023.
- ^ Grossman, Adam (3 October 2023). "Tsukada Named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week". West Virginia Mountaineers.
- ^ "Tsukada Named Student-Athlete of the Week". West Virginia Mountaineers. 6 November 2023.
- ^ "Yutaro Tsukada WVU profile". West Virginia Mountaineers.
- ^ Grossman, Adam (8 December 2023). "Caldeira, Tsukada Named United Soccer Coaches All-Americans". West Virginia Mountaineers.
- ^ Grossman, Adam (15 December 2023). "Tsukada, Lee Named Scholar All-Americans". West Virginia Mountaineers.
- ^ Grossman, Adam (19 December 2023). "Caldeira, Tsukada Collect National Honors". West Virginia Mountaineers.
- ^ "New Mexico United U-23 Announces Three Signings to Inaugural Roster". New Mexico United. 24 May 2022.
- ^ "50 players selected in 2023 MLS SuperDraft". USL League Two. 20 December 2023.
- ^ Trinone, Anjelica (19 December 2023). "Yutaro Tsukada drafted in first round of MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City". WBOY-TV.
- ^ Rollins, Sean (19 December 2023). "2024 MLS Draft: Orlando City Selects Winger Yutaro Tsukada at No. 25 Overall". The Mane Land.
- ^ "Orlando City B signs MLS SuperDraft selection Yutaro Tsukada". Orlando City SC. 15 March 2024.
- ^ Redfern, Kevin (15 March 2024). "Former WVU soccer forward Yutaro Tsukada signs with Orlando City B of MLS Next Pro". WTRF-TV.
- ^ "Match Report: Orlando City B wins season opener 3-2 against Atlanta United 2". Orlando City SC. 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Orlando City SC signs Yutaro Tsukada to short-term MLS agreement". Orlando City SC. 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Orlando City SC signs Yutaro Tsukada to short-term MLS agreement". Orlando City SC. 15 May 2024.
- ^ "Match report: Orlando City SC plays to scoreless draw against Inter Miami CF". Orlando City SC. 15 May 2024.
- ^ "Orlando City SC signs forward Yutaro Tsukada to first team deal". Orlando City SC. 20 August 2024.
- ^ Yutaro Tsukada at Soccerway
- ^ "Yutaro Tsukada 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
External links
edit- Yutaro Tsukada at Soccerway.com
- Yutaro Tsukada at FBref.com
- Yutaro Tsukada at Major League Soccer
