Joshua Yaro Bio
Joshua Yaro is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for St. Louis City in Major League Soccer. Born in Kumasi, Ghana, he moved to the United States on a scholarship and built his career through college soccer and the lower divisions of American professional football before reaching MLS.
Standing 1.80 m tall, Yaro combines the physical tools expected of a modern center back with the technical grounding shaped by an American college program. He is widely recognized for being selected second overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft and for later serving as captain of St. Louis City 2 during the club’s inaugural season.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Yaro was born on 18 November 1994 in Kumasi, Ghana. He grew up in a country with a deep football culture, and as a young player he joined the Right to Dream Academy, a well-known Ghanaian youth development program, between 2009 and 2010. The academy has produced several players who have moved on to professional careers in Europe and North America.
His development at Right to Dream helped open the door to an international education. Yaro moved to the United States on a scholarship to attend Cate School in Carpinteria, California, where he continued to play competitive soccer. The move marked a major step in his pathway from local youth football in Ghana to the American college and professional system.
Path to Soccer
After finishing at Cate School, Yaro enrolled at Georgetown University, where he played three seasons of college soccer for the Georgetown Hoyas from 2013 to 2015. His time at Georgetown allowed him to test himself against high-level collegiate competition while completing his studies.
During his college years, Yaro also gained senior-level experience with the Premier Development League side Baltimore Bohemians in 2014. The PDL, now known as USL League Two, gave him a first taste of regular senior football in the United States and helped prepare him for the professional ranks.
Joshua Yaro Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
Yaro’s first senior appearances came in 2014 with Baltimore Bohemians, where he featured as a young defender balancing college and club football. The experience sharpened his understanding of the professional game in North America.
His college performances for Georgetown drew the attention of MLS scouts, and on 11 January 2016 he was selected second overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by Philadelphia Union. It was one of the highest draft selections for a defender in that year’s class and immediately raised expectations around his professional future.
Bethlehem Steel and Early Professional Years (2016–2018)
Rather than breaking straight into the Philadelphia Union first team, Yaro made his professional debut with the Union’s USL Championship affiliate, Bethlehem Steel, on 25 March 2016. He started in a 1–0 win over FC Montreal, marking a steady introduction to the senior professional game.
Yaro spent the bulk of his early pro career with Bethlehem Steel between 2016 and 2018, working on the defensive side of his game and adjusting to the demands of a full professional schedule. In July 2017, he also earned his U.S. green card, a status that qualified him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes and gave clubs more flexibility when signing him.
San Antonio FC Era (2019–2020)
After his release by Philadelphia, Yaro joined USL Championship side San Antonio FC on 11 January 2019. The move gave him the chance to establish himself as a regular starter in a competitive league outside the MLS ecosystem.
Across two seasons in San Antonio, Yaro continued to develop his reading of the game and his passing out from the back. His form at the USL level kept his MLS ambitions alive despite the initial setback of leaving Philadelphia without a first-team contract.
San Diego Loyal Stint (2021)
Following his time in San Antonio, Yaro joined San Diego Loyal SC ahead of the 2021 USL Championship campaign. The move offered a fresh start in a club known for its progressive culture and community focus.
Although his stay in San Diego was short, the season reinforced his reputation as a reliable, technically clean defender capable of stepping into competitive environments.
St. Louis City Era (2022–Present)
In 2022, Yaro signed with St. Louis City 2, the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate of the forthcoming St. Louis City SC, and was named captain for their inaugural season. The leadership role reflected both his experience and the trust placed in him by the club’s sporting staff.
He later signed with the senior St. Louis City SC side, joining the MLS roster as a defender. His journey through the St. Louis system, from second team captain to first-team player, mirrors the wider growth of the club itself as it established itself in the league.
Driving Style and Strengths
Yaro is a composed center back who reads the game calmly and is comfortable bringing the ball out from the back. His time in American college and developmental soccer helped shape a playing style that blends positional discipline with a willingness to pass into midfield, while his height of 1.80 m gives him a solid presence in aerial duels.
Notable Events and Milestones
The standout moment of Yaro’s career so far remains his selection as the second overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. Being named captain of St. Louis City 2 in their inaugural season and later graduating to the St. Louis City SC first team are also key milestones in his path back to top-flight soccer.
Joshua Yaro Career Wins
Joshua Yaro’s career has been defined more by steady development and milestones than by trophy hauls, and verified senior honors include recognition associated with St. Louis City 2 and St. Louis City SC as listed in club and competition records.
St. Louis City Highlights
Yaro served as captain of St. Louis City 2 in their inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season, a leadership mark that highlighted his standing within the organization. His subsequent promotion to the senior St. Louis City SC roster underlined the club’s faith in his development path.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career, Yaro made his professional debut in a winning performance with Bethlehem Steel, contributing to a 1–0 victory over FC Montreal in March 2016. Across his time with Baltimore Bohemians, Bethlehem Steel, San Antonio FC, San Diego Loyal and St. Louis City 2, he built a consistent reputation as a dependable defender at the developmental level of American soccer.
Joshua Yaro Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Joshua Yaro’s parents and immediate family is limited, and detailed records on his family background are not widely documented. His sporting lineage is instead tied to the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana, which played a formative role in his early football education.
Personal Life
Yaro has spent much of his adult life in the United States after arriving on a scholarship, and he obtained his U.S. green card in July 2017. This status made him a domestic player for MLS roster purposes and reflects his long-term settlement in American soccer. Public details about a spouse or children are not confirmed in available records.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Joshua Yaro remains part of the St. Louis City SC setup as a defender, continuing his role within the club’s first-team squad. His contract with the club runs through 2025, keeping him tied to the organization as it builds on its early MLS seasons.
With his contract period approaching, the 2025 campaign represents an important stretch for Yaro to cement his place in the St. Louis City SC first team. Wiki data also lists a loan move to Athletic Club Boise in USL League One, indicating the club is using its developmental pathway to give him consistent minutes.
The outlook for Yaro in 2025 centers on steady defensive contributions and the chance to influence St. Louis City’s MLS results, whether from the senior roster or through his loan spell. Either route gives him a platform to showcase the form that has defined his journey from Kumasi to Major League Soccer.