Who is Yohei Takaoka? Whitecaps' new goalkeeper by the numbers

Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps have added Yohei Takaoka. The 26-year-old Japanese goalkeeper joins from J1 League side Yokohama F. Marinos in a Targeted Allocation Money deal. Takaoka has signed a deal until 2024 with a club option until 2025. 

 

“We were looking to add some experience to our goalkeeper group this offseason, and when we learned Yohei was an option, we acted quickly,” Vancouver Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a club statement. “He arrives with a winning mentality, has played for championships, and was in the J1 League's best XI last year. We’re very pleased to welcome Yohei to our club and city.”

Takaoka arrives in Vancouver on the back of winning the J1 League title with the Marinos. Considered one of the best keepers in Japan, Takaoka collected 13 clean sheets in 34 J1 League games last season while conceding 35 goals overall and was named to the 2022 J1 League Best XI. 

Takaoka to the Whitecaps - "I think it will be a good challenge for me"

Despite the accolades, the 26-year-old is up for a new challenge in MLS. “I think this will be a good challenge for me, I needed a new challenge, and that’s why I came here,” said Takaoka in a club statement. Indeed, a glance at Wyscout highlights that Takaoka was one of the best keepers in the J1 League. Takaoka was one of the busiest goalkeepers in the league, and the 127 shots faced rank him fifth in the league while also ranking fourth with 92 saves made in 2022. There are some concerns as well, however. Takaoka ranked 27th in the J1 League last season with -0.78 prevented goals.

Still, the Whitecaps hope that Takaoka can be the missing piece to push the club over the playoff line, a goal the club missed out on narrowly in the 2022 season when Thomas Hasal and Cody Cropper were the main starters for the club. Hasal, for now, remains at the club, but the young Canadian will have to fight for playing time with the arrival of Takaoka, who the Whitecaps hope can make enough of an impact to return to the playoffs and finally replace former star Maxime Crépeau.