(born 8 January 1989 in Itami, Hyōgo, Japan) is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for Nara Club. Club career Product of Cerezo Osaka U-15, and winning the Japanese national high school championship as the striker of the team with Takashi Inui up front, Kohei Yamada left Osaka University of Economics during his sophomore season to begin his career with Thespa Kusatsu in Japan's J. League 2. He made his official debut with the club during the 2010 season and ended his first professional season appearing in 18 league matches. After two seasons with Thespa Kusatsu, Yamada was scouted at the Japan Pro-Footballers Association (JPFA) Tryout by Major League Soccer, and invited to the Major League Soccer combine in January 2012, with a hope of being selected by one of Major league Soccer's nineteen clubs. He was selected by Colorado Rapids in the third round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft (52nd overall). Yamada had signed with MLS before the draft, so became part of the Rapids squad immediately. Yamada was waived by Colorado on 20 June 2012. Club statistics Updated to 23 February 2018. References External links Profile at FC Gifu Profile at Nagano Parceiro 1989 births Living people AC Nagano Parceiro players Association football midfielders Association football people from Hyōgo Prefecture Colorado Rapids draft picks Colorado Rapids players Expatriate soccer players in the United States J2 League players J3 League players Japan Football League players Japanese expatriate sportspeople in the United States Japanese footballers Osaka University of Economics alumni Thespakusatsu Gunma players V-Varen Nagasaki players FC Gifu players Nara Club players