Performance and transfers of Ayase Ueda

Japanese footballer Ayase Ueda has experienced a series of successful moves and performances in European leagues. Initially playing for Feyenoord in the Netherlands, Ueda scored a penalty during a 5-2 victory against Cambuur, sparking discussions about his potential to win consecutive top scorer titles in the Eredivisie.

Following his time in the Netherlands, Ueda transferred to LOSC Lille in France for a reported 15 million euros. He made an immediate impact during his Ligue 1 debut against Toulouse, scoring a header in the 73rd minute to secure a 1-0 win. Lille manager Davide Ancelotti praised the striker, describing him as a ‘natural striker’ with excellent positioning and intelligence in the box.

Ueda has since continued his strong form, scoring a header in the UEFA Champions League against Real Betis after being named in the starting lineup. His selection to start ahead of veteran striker Olivier Giroud has been noted by French media outlets such as L'Équipe and RMC. To mark his arrival and early success, Lille released a nine-minute documentary detailing his transition to the club, including his medical, press conference, and initial training sessions.

This transfer also resulted in solidarity contributions for his former club, Kashima Antlers. While the move was finalized, Feyenoord technical director Devy Rigaux noted that the club could have received 25 million euros from Fenerbahçe, but respected Ueda’s desire to play in a top-five league. Some journalists have criticized the final sale price to Lille as being too low given the player's profile.