2024 first-round MLS SuperDraft pick joins Ocean State club after two years in Orlando
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (July 30, 2026) – Rhode Island FC announced today it has acquired forward Yutaro Tsukada from Major League Soccer organization Orlando City SC on loan for the remainder of the 2026 season, pending league and federation approval. The 2024 first-round MLS SuperDraft pick joins the club after spending the first two seasons of his professional career with Orlando, and will be available for selection for Saturday’s game at Birmingham Legion FC.
“Yutaro is a creative winger with an eye for goal,” said Rhode Island FC Head Coach and General Manager Khano Smith. “His technical ability and pace will help drive our attack forward, and his creativity will add another dimension to our squad.”
Yutaro’s professional career began when Orlando City SC selected him 25th overall in the first round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. Tsukada signed with the club’s MLS Next Pro reserve team, Orlando City B, where he made an immediate impact in a breakout rookie season. The Tokyo, Japan native finished third on the team with seven goals and second with seven assists in 22 MLS Next Pro regular-season appearances, 20 of which were starts. The impressive string of performances earned him five call-ups to Orlando City’s first team in 2024, and he eventually signed with the MLS club for the 2025 season.
Although an ACL tear sidelined Tsukada for the entirety of the 2025 season, the winger returned to the club in 2026, where he logged 281 minutes in six appearances across Orlando City SC and Orlando City B.
Before his MLS SuperDraft selection, Tsukada began his collegiate career at NJCAA school Daytona State College. Tsukada rewrote Daytona history books during his two-season stay with a program-record 26 goals and four career hat-tricks, adding 11 assists. He finished the 2021-22 campaign with a record-breaking 20 goals in 15 games, earning him Region 8 Player of the Year Honors and selection to the NJCAA DI All-American Team.
After transferring to NCAA Division I school West Virginia State University in 2022, Ytusada did not take long to adjust to the next level, bagging 13 goals and tallying 14 assists in his final two collegiate seasons. He was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team and Sun Belt All-Tournament Team during his senior season, after leading the team and finishing top-20 in the country with 12 goals and nine assists. The winger scored six goals in seven postseason games to end his prolific collegiate career, including three goals in the 2023 NCAA tournament.
Name: Yutaro Tsukada
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 158 lbs.
Birthday: July 28, 2001
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Previous teams: Orlando City SC (MLS), Orlando City B (MLSNP), West Virginia University (NCAA), Daytona State College (NJCAA)
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