2024 MLS Draft: Orlando City Selects Winger Yutaro Tsukada at No. 25 Overall

Orlando City used its second and final first-round pick of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by selecting West Virginia left winger Yutaro Tsukada. After trading up to select a box-to-box midfielder with their first pick of the draft, the Lions moved further into the attack by taking a player on the outside.

Tsukada made 40 appearances, with 31 starts, and recorded 2,624 minutes in two seasons with West Virginia. He had 13 goals and 14 assists, but the majority of his production with the Mountaineers came in 2023, when he scored 12 goals and added nine assists. This past season, he helped West Virginia make the College Cup for the first time in program history, falling 1-0 to Clemson in the semifinal.

Prior to attending West Virginia, the Tokyo native played at Daytona State College, starting in 22 of his 24 appearances and scoring 26 goals with 11 assists. He had a 20-goal season in 2021, recording a total of 46 points. Before coming to the United States, the Japanese winger played at Seibo High School and spent time with FC Tokyo of the J. League.

Tsukada’s breakout 2023 season resulted in several individual honors. He was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America third team, College Soccer News All-America second team, Top Drawer Soccer Best XI second team, and United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region first team. For his conference play, he was named to the All-Sun Belt first team and Sun Belt All-Tournament team.

What It Means for Orlando City

The selection of Tsukada in the first round makes some sense with some questions still surrounding the future of Ivan Angulo. A regular starter for the Lions, the Colombian has been on loan and could be returning to Brazilian club Palmeiras. Additionally, Mauricio Pereyra and Junior Urso, who have both played the No. 10 spot at times, left the club following the 2023 MLS season.

Facundo Torres and Martin Ojeda are players who could play on the outside, but one might have to take over the main playmaker role in the center of the field. If Angulo departs, Tsukada could play his way into the first team.