J. Tsukada

Yutaro Tsukada took the long way to Orlando. After coming through the FC Tokyo youth ranks in Japan, he moved to the United States for college football, first at Daytona State College and then at West Virginia University, fitting in spells with New Mexico United U23 and Capital FC along the way. That route through the American college system paid off in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, when Orlando City SC took him in the first round.

He began in MLS Next Pro with Orlando City B, and it was there that he made his mark: in May 2024 he scored three goals and added two assists in just three appearances, form that was good enough to win him the league's Player of the Month award. He stepped up to make his senior debut for Orlando City SC that same month, and by August had signed a contract through 2025 with club options attached for the following two years.

The progress was interrupted in February 2025, when a torn ACL kept him out for most of the season. Tsukada returned to action in early 2026, making six appearances split between Orlando City SC and Orlando City B, before being loaned to USL Championship side Rhode Island FC at the end of July for the remainder of the season. He has since scored once in six games there.

Tsukada has not yet been capped by Japan at senior level, though he remains eligible for the country's youth sides. Orlando City B's run to the MLS Next Pro playoffs in 2024 ended with a first-round defeat.