The Seattle Sounders announced on Tuesday that Yu Tsukanome has joined USL Championship side Pittsburgh Riverhounds on loan through the end of the 2026 season. The move gives Tsukanome an opportunity for increased playing time at a higher level than MLS Next Pro, and opens up an international roster spot for the Sounders.
Jeremiah Oshan
Tsukanome earned a first-team contract ahead of this season on the strength of his 2025 season with Tacoma Defiance, where he had 18 goals and 5 assists in MLS Next Pro and added another 3 goals in U.S. Open Cup play. Despite signing an MLS contract, he has yet to play a minute for the Sounders and has only made three bench appearances while scoring 5 goals in 10 games with Defiance. Part of the challenge in breaking into the first team has been a lack of a clear positional fit. With Defiance, Tsukanome has played primarily as a striker or a wide forward, while also making appearances as more of a No. 10 or withdrawn forward. At the first-team level those positions are occupied by guys who are either more natural fits for the role or highly paid. With the lack of production from the attack, it might say something that Tsukanome had not been able to even get a cameo.
With the Riverhounds, Tsukanome has an immediate opportunity to show what he can do. Currently 5th in the Eastern conference, Pittsburgh have 23 points from 16 games and a goal difference of 0 with 19 goals for and 19 goals allowed. That goals-for tally is tied for the 5th worst in the East. Trevor Amann and Albert Dikwa currently drive the team’s attack as a front two, with 5 goals for Amann and 6 goals and 2 assists for Dikwa. Tsukanome will give the Riverhounds another option in attack along with Sam Bassett, who has chipped in with 3 goals.
Tsukanome turns 26 in December. He’s demonstrated that he’s got a level above MLS Next Pro, but hasn’t had much of a chance to demonstrate exactly what that level is as of yet. Although this move is a loan, it doesn’t seem especially likely that he has a long-term future with the Sounders first team. This stint with Pittsburgh not only represents a chance for him to get game time and show what he can do in USLC, but also provides him an opportunity to showcase himself for his potential next move.
