Shin Yamada was born on 30 May 2000 in Yokohama, Japan, and came through Toin University. He signed his first professional contract with Kawasaki Frontale in 2023, where he developed into a senior J1 attacker. With Frontale he won the Emperor's Cup in 2023 and the Super Cup in 2024.
In July 2025 Celtic signed Yamada — a major European move into Scottish football's elite club. After 8 Premiership matches and 1 UEFA Champions League appearance with Celtic, he moved on loan to Preußen Münster in Germany's 2. Bundesliga in January 2026. His German loan has produced 8 league matches with 2 goals across the second half of 2025–26.
For Japan, Yamada was a member of the squad that won the EAFF E-1 Football Championship in 2025, playing 2 tournament matches. He also featured in 2 friendlies in 2025.
A 175cm two-footed attacker with the technical security to play multiple front-line roles, Yamada is in the early stages of his European career. He is a prospect for the wider 2026 FIFA World Cup squad as a versatile young attacker.