Yu Tsukanome has come a long way since signing with Tacoma Defiance ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.
A player who was once competing in the fourth division with NPSL club Dakota Fusion FC, is now Defiance’s all-time leader in goals in a single season. The Japanese forward reached this milestone on Sept. 17 after recording his 18th goal for the club in the team’s 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo.
“If you're scoring over a goal every two games, I don't care what pro level you're at, that's an amazing haul,” said Director of Development Wade Webber.
The growth Tsukanome has shown in his game since first embarking on his journey with Tacoma has been remarkable. While the staff knew the forward had a knack for goal given his NPSL accolades that included a Golden Boot Award, it wasn’t until this season where his abilities on the pitch truly began to shine.
“He was good last year, but this year, he scored a variety of goals, some dramatic and high level [goals], some other one-touch finishes that display such a high amount of skill,” said Webber.
The long-time Sounders staffer and alum described him as a player who is “good at pretty much everything you'd want a striker to be very good at.”
Match & Merch Bundle (vs. Portland Timbers)
Add a limited-edition Cascadia Rivalry t-shirt to your ticket to the Portland Timbers match. Matchday pick up info will be communicated prior to the match via email.
Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. PT on October 4.
His primary asset is his field awareness and game intelligence. He takes up clever positions in the box. His timing of his runs when the ball arrives is at a high level. He can finish with multiple surfaces. In addition to scoring with both feet, he's scored in the air, so he's not reliant on pace or physical dominance.
Yet, Tsukanome remains unsatisfied, knowing that his initial objective was to contribute 20 goals by the end of the year. As of Sept. 21, Tsukanome is one shy of achieving this feat, and with one match left of the season and his consistent goal scoring track record, the odds of him completing this task are high.
“The fact that I'm scoring goals gives me confidence,” said Tsukanome. “But even if I score, the team is not winning the way I want the team to win, so I still want to influence the team where if I score, it gives a little bit of power for my team to win. And I haven't been able to do that.”
Humble about his accomplishments this season, the forward has nonetheless been the silver lining in an otherwise difficult campaign for the Defiance, who have just nine wins in 27 matches.
His performances are a reminder of the commitment the club has in developing its players.
Two Tickets & Two Beers (vs. Portland Timbers)
Come out to Lumen Field to watch your Seattle Sounders take on Portland with this special ticket offer sponsored by Michelob Ultra. For just $40 + Taxes & Fees, get two tickets & two beers for the match. For 21+ fans only and drinks must be picked up in the North Plaza 21+ beer garden prior to kickoff.
Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. PT on October 4.
“It's [been about] bringing him in and giving him opportunities and surrounding him with a support system, which, frankly, is better this year than it was last year,” said Webber.
Webber specifically references the club’s dedication toward eliminating any language barrier that Tsukanome may have dealt with upon his initial arrival to the club.
“His English was [there], but he still wasn't 100% fluent,” said Webber. “Soccer is the universal language…Through observation, eye contact, hand gestures, and maybe simple communication, players can convey a lot in the flow of a game, but if you want to talk about the detail required when you're breaking down a video and you're sitting with a player, you really need a mastery of the language translation services and in 2024, I don't think Yu received that, but we tried to invest more in that this year.”
Following Tsukanome’s contributions from the season, his future opportunities in the professional soccer space are looking bright. With his contract up after the 2025 season, Webber is expecting the forward to be a hot commodity in MLS and beyond.
“He's done so much this year to just make himself an attractive free agent,” he said. “All you'd want as a player is to know that as one contract is coming to an end, my employer still likes me, and there's a lot of other employers that like my work. This is still his first pro contract and he's earned a second.”
