# Ayase Ueda (上田綺世)
**Ayase Ueda** (上田綺世) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a center forward for LOSC Lille in [Ligue 1](https://www.edgepedia.org/ligue-1) and for the Japan national team. He rose through university football and [Kashima Antlers](https://www.edgepedia.org/kashima-antlers) to become the Eredivisie's top scorer with [Feyenoord](https://www.edgepedia.org/feyenoord) in 2025/26, and joined Lille in August 2026 as the first Japanese player in the club's history.[1](https://www.calciotattico.com/en/scout-report/ayase-ueda-scout-report/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1998, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan (FBref lists 1998, in Mito)[2](https://www.antlers.co.jp/en/blogs/news/88562) • [3](https://fbref.com/en/players/c0295327/Ayase-Ueda) |
| Position, physique | Centre forward, 182 cm, 76 kg[2](https://www.antlers.co.jp/en/blogs/news/88562) |
| Kashima Antlers | 2019–2022, 86 J1 League appearances, 38 goals[2](https://www.antlers.co.jp/en/blogs/news/88562) • [4](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/career) |
| Cercle Brugge | 2022–2023, 22 goals in 40 Belgian First Division A games[4](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/career) |
| Feyenoord | August 2023 to August 2026, 82 appearances, 40 goals; €9,000,000 transfer fee[4](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/career) • [5](https://www.feyenoordshirtmuseum.nl/teamoverzichten/spelers-a-k/a-m/u/ueda-ayase) |
| 2025/26 season | 25 goals in 31 Eredivisie games, league top scorer[1](https://www.calciotattico.com/en/scout-report/ayase-ueda-scout-report/) |
| Japan | 43 caps and 18 goals at the time of his Lille transfer; 2022 FIFA World Cup squad member[1](https://www.calciotattico.com/en/scout-report/ayase-ueda-scout-report/) • [6](https://www.feyenoord.com/en/news/feyenoord-signs-japanese-international-ayase-ueda) |
| Lille | Signed August 31, 2026, four-year contract to 2030, shirt number 18[1](https://www.calciotattico.com/en/scout-report/ayase-ueda-scout-report/) |
## Early career in Japan
Ueda came through the Kashima Antlers youth system, attended Kashima Gakuen High School, and played university football for Hosei University before joining Kashima Antlers as a professional in 2019.[2](https://www.antlers.co.jp/en/blogs/news/88562) • [7](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/best-u23-players-in-asia-data-analysis-statistics) He made his official debut for the club in July 2019.[6](https://www.feyenoord.com/en/news/feyenoord-signs-japanese-international-ayase-ueda)
Across three seasons in the [J1 League](https://www.edgepedia.org/j1-league) he scored 38 goals in 86 league appearances, with season totals of 4 goals in 2019, 10 in 2020, 14 in 2021, and 10 in the first half of 2022.[4](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/career)
## Cercle Brugge
On July 1, 2022, Kashima Antlers announced a basic agreement for Ueda's complete transfer to Cercle Brugge KSV of the Belgian First Division A, and he departed Japan on July 2 for a medical.[2](https://www.antlers.co.jp/en/blogs/news/88562) In his single full Belgian season, 2022/23, he scored 22 goals (5 from penalties) in 40 league appearances and added 2 assists.[4](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/career) Feyenoord's announcement credits him with 23 goals in 42 matches across all competitions that season.[6](https://www.feyenoord.com/en/news/feyenoord-signs-japanese-international-ayase-ueda)
That form earned him a place on Japan's 2022 [FIFA World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-world-cup) roster, where he wore number 26.[6](https://www.feyenoord.com/en/news/feyenoord-signs-japanese-international-ayase-ueda) • [8](https://www.jfa.jp/common/pdf/mediaguide_JPN_FWC2022.pdf) His sale to Feyenoord in 2023 made him Cercle Brugge's record sale in club history, after the Belgian club had bought him for a reported €1.2–1.3 million a year earlier.[9](https://www.besoccer.com/player/transfers/a-ueda-694588)
## Feyenoord
Feyenoord announced Ueda's signing on August 3, 2023, on a five-year contract running to June 2028.[6](https://www.feyenoord.com/en/news/feyenoord-signs-japanese-international-ayase-ueda) The transfer fee was €9,000,000 according to the Feyenoord shirt museum, while BeSoccer records it as €8 million.[5](https://www.feyenoordshirtmuseum.nl/teamoverzichten/spelers-a-k/a-m/u/ueda-ayase) • [9](https://www.besoccer.com/player/transfers/a-ueda-694588) In joining Feyenoord he followed Shinji Ono, the Japanese midfielder who was a crowd favorite at [De Kuip](https://www.edgepedia.org/de-kuip) between 2001 and 2005.[6](https://www.feyenoord.com/en/news/feyenoord-signs-japanese-international-ayase-ueda)
His first two seasons were largely spent as backup to [Santiago Giménez](https://www.edgepedia.org/santiago-gimenez), with 5 [Eredivisie](https://www.edgepedia.org/eredivisie) goals in 26 games in 2023/24 and 7 in 21 games in 2024/25.[4](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/career) Across all competitions that season he recorded 28 goals and 2 assists in 45 appearances.[10](https://tactix.football/player/a-ueda/2025-26) His Feyenoord career total across league and cup competitions came to 82 appearances and 40 goals.[4](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/career)
## International career with Japan
Ueda debuted for Japan before his move to Belgium, with 9 national-team appearances and no goals recorded at the time of his 2022 transfer.[2](https://www.antlers.co.jp/en/blogs/news/88562) He had earlier represented Japan at youth levels from U-20 through U-24 and took part in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.[2](https://www.antlers.co.jp/en/blogs/news/88562)
At the 2023 [AFC Asian Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-asian-cup) he played 5 matches and scored 4 goals (1 from a penalty).[11](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/national/career) In qualifying for the 2026 World Cup he added 8 goals in 9 matches.[11](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/national/career) By the time of his Lille transfer he had accumulated 43 caps and 18 goals for Japan.[1](https://www.calciotattico.com/en/scout-report/ayase-ueda-scout-report/)
## Move to Lille
LOSC Lille announced Ueda's signing on August 31, 2026, three days after his 28th birthday, on a four-year contract to 2030 with squad number 18.[1](https://www.calciotattico.com/en/scout-report/ayase-ueda-scout-report/) Neither club declared the transfer fee; NOS and L'Équipe reported a figure of fifteen million euros, the latter with add-ons included.[1](https://www.calciotattico.com/en/scout-report/ayase-ueda-scout-report/) He made his Lille debut at Toulouse on September 3, 2026, coming on for [Olivier Giroud](https://www.edgepedia.org/olivier-giroud) in the 57th minute and scoring a headed goal in the 73rd.[1](https://www.calciotattico.com/en/scout-report/ayase-ueda-scout-report/) His departure left Feyenoord seeking a replacement center forward ahead of its Champions League campaign.[12](https://as.com/futbol/champions/el-feyenoord-mide-su-estado-antes-de-visitar-el-barcelona-f202609-n/)
## Playing style
Ueda is a center forward whose profile is built on finishing and movement in the box. For Japan under Hajime Moriyasu he functions as more than a goal-scorer, leading the press and linking play in transition.[14](https://footballkit.lazada.sg/players/how-does-ayase-ueda-operate-as-japans-relentless-pressing-forward/) Statistical profiles rate his scoring and finishing highest, with aerial ability his clearest area for improvement.[15](https://www.xilytics.com/en/scout/player/ayase-ueda-21773355)
## References
1. [Ayase Ueda, scout report: the Eredivisie top scorer Lille signed for a fee nobody has declared, Calciotattico](https://www.calciotattico.com/en/scout-report/ayase-ueda-scout-report/)
2. [Agreement Reached for Ayase Ueda's Permanent Transfer to Cercle Brugge KSV, Kashima Antlers official site](https://www.antlers.co.jp/en/blogs/news/88562)
3. [Ayase Ueda Stats, FBref.com](https://fbref.com/en/players/c0295327/Ayase-Ueda)
4. [Ayase Ueda Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/career)
5. [Ueda, Ayase, Feyenoordshirtmuseum](https://www.feyenoordshirtmuseum.nl/teamoverzichten/spelers-a-k/a-m/u/ueda-ayase)
6. [Feyenoord signs Japanese international Ayase Ueda, Feyenoord.com](https://www.feyenoord.com/en/news/feyenoord-signs-japanese-international-ayase-ueda)
7. [Data Analysis: Three young and upcoming players from Asia, Total Football Analysis](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/best-u23-players-in-asia-data-analysis-statistics)
8. [Japan National Team Media Guide, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, JFA](https://www.jfa.jp/common/pdf/mediaguide_JPN_FWC2022.pdf)
9. [Ayase Ueda's transfers history, BeSoccer](https://www.besoccer.com/player/transfers/a-ueda-694588)
10. [Ayase Ueda stats 2025/26, TACTIX](https://tactix.football/player/a-ueda/2025-26)
11. [Ayase Ueda International Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/8124/ayase-ueda/national/career)
12. [El Feyenoord mide su estado antes de visitar el Barcelona, AS](https://as.com/futbol/champions/el-feyenoord-mide-su-estado-antes-de-visitar-el-barcelona-f202609-n/)
13. [TFA Scouted, April 2023, Total Football Analysis](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/TFA-Scouted-April-2023.pdf)
14. [How Does Ayase Ueda Operate as Japan's Relentless Pressing Forward?, FootballKit](https://footballkit.lazada.sg/players/how-does-ayase-ueda-operate-as-japans-relentless-pressing-forward/)
15. [Ayase Ueda, Stats, Playing Style & Radar, Xilytics](https://www.xilytics.com/en/scout/player/ayase-ueda-21773355)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania › East Asian footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license