Yohei Takaoka

Yohei Takaoka is a Japanese goalkeeper born in Yokohama on March 16, 1996. He developed in Yokohama FC’s system and became the club’s starting goalkeeper in 2017, making 41 appearances. In 2018, Takaoka joined Sagan Tosu on loan and established himself as the J1 club’s regular starter in 2019. He returned to Yokohama in 2020 with Yokohama F. Marinos, then helped them win the 2022 J1 League title after playing every minute of the league season. That season also earned Takaoka a place in the J1 League Best XI. In February 2023, he moved to Vancouver Whitecaps, where his proactive goalkeeping and distribution have supported the team’s build-up play. Takaoka helped Vancouver win three consecutive Canadian Championship titles from 2023 through 2025, and he became an MLS All-Star and a finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2025.