Ayase Ueda: Powerful Rise of Japan’s Clinical Goal-Scoring Star

Introduction

Ayase Ueda is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Feyenoord and the Japan national team. Known for clever movement, sharp finishing and his ability to find space inside the penalty area, Ueda has developed into one of Japan’s leading attacking players.

His journey is unusual because he reached Japan’s senior national team while still playing university football. He later built his career with Kashima Antlers, moved to Europe with Cercle Brugge and then joined Dutch club Feyenoord.

The 2025–26 season became a major turning point. Ueda scored 25 Eredivisie goals to finish as the league’s top scorer. He then made more history for Japan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ayase Ueda Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full Name	Ayase Ueda
Japanese Name	上田 綺世
Date of Birth	August 28, 1998
Age	27, as of August 9, 2026
Birthplace	Mito, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Profession	Professional Footballer
Position	Striker / Forward
Height	182 cm
Weight	76 kg
Current Club	Feyenoord
Club Number	9
National Team	Japan
Wife	Natsuki Yufu
Former Clubs	Kashima Antlers, Cercle Brugge
Famous For	Goals for Feyenoord and Japan

The Japan Football Association lists Ueda’s date of birth as August 28, 1998, and his height and weight as 182 cm and 76 kg. Feyenoord’s current first-team squad also lists him among its forwards wearing number 9.

Who Is Ayase Ueda?

Ayase Ueda is one of the most successful Japanese strikers of his generation.

He started his senior club career in Japan before taking the difficult step into European football. Rather than immediately joining one of Europe’s biggest clubs, Ueda developed gradually.

His route took him from Kashima Antlers to Cercle Brugge in Belgium and finally to Feyenoord in the Netherlands.

That steady development helped him improve his movement, physical strength and finishing against stronger European opposition.

Football readers interested in other young attacking talents can also read our profile of Malick Fofana and his rise in European football.

Early Life and Education

Ayase Ueda was born on August 28, 1998, in Mito, Japan.

Football became an important part of his life while he was young. He developed through the Japanese youth football system and spent time with Kashima Antlers’ youth setup before continuing his development at school and university level.

Ueda attended Hosei University, where his performances began attracting wider attention.

University football played an important role in his development. Instead of entering professional football immediately after school, he continued improving technically and physically while competing at a strong university level.

His performances eventually opened the door to both professional club football and international recognition.

Ayase Ueda at Kashima Antlers

Kashima Antlers became Ueda’s first professional club.

His official senior debut came in 2019, and he quickly demonstrated why he had been considered one of Japan’s promising young forwards.

According to Feyenoord, Ueda recorded 47 goals in 103 appearances across all competitions for Kashima Antlers before leaving Japan.

His time at Kashima helped build the foundations of his professional game.

He learned how to attack defensive spaces, finish quickly and deal with the greater physical demands of professional football.

His scoring record eventually attracted attention from Europe.

Move to Cercle Brugge

Ueda made his first move outside Japan in 2022, joining Belgian club Cercle Brugge.

Moving from Japanese football to Belgium represented an important test. He had to adapt to a different football culture, new teammates and more physical defenders.

Ueda handled the transition well.

He scored 23 goals in 42 appearances for Cercle Brugge across all competitions, according to Feyenoord’s official announcement when the Dutch club later signed him.

That performance made him an attractive option for clubs competing at a higher European level.

Ayase Ueda Joins Feyenoord

Feyenoord signed Ueda from Cercle Brugge in August 2023.

The Rotterdam club gave the Japanese striker a five-year contract running until June 2028.

His first seasons required patience. Competition for attacking places meant he did not immediately become Feyenoord’s main goalscorer.

However, Ueda continued developing.

The biggest reward came during the 2025–26 campaign.

Incredible 2025–26 Eredivisie Season

The 2025–26 season changed the way many football fans viewed Ayase Ueda.

He finished the campaign with 25 Eredivisie goals, making him the top scorer in the Dutch league and winner of the Willy van der Kuijlen Trophy.

His start to the season was especially impressive.

By the end of the first ten league matches, Ueda had already scored 11 goals. His performances earned him the Eredivisie Player of the Month award for October 2025.

His success showed that he had developed from a promising European-based Japanese striker into a player capable of leading a major European league’s scoring chart.

Fans interested in another European striker can read our biography of Jonathan Burkardt and his football career.

Ayase Ueda and the Japan National Team

Ueda’s international journey began unusually early.

He made his senior Japan debut while he was still connected with university football rather than being an established professional star.

His first senior international goal came against El Salvador in June 2023. It was his 15th appearance for Japan.

Later in 2023, his international scoring improved rapidly.

He scored a hat-trick against Myanmar during World Cup qualifying and followed it with two goals against Syria.

Ueda also represented Japan at major international tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup.

For official international information, readers can visit Ayase Ueda’s Japan Football Association profile.

Ayase Ueda at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered one of the most important moments of Ueda’s international career.

Japan defeated Tunisia 4–0, with Ueda scoring twice. FIFA records his goals in the 31st and 83rd minutes.

The performance created a historic Japanese football record.

According to FIFA, Ayase Ueda became the first Japanese player to score two goals in a single FIFA World Cup match.

For a striker who had spent years building his career step by step, scoring twice on football’s biggest international stage represented an important milestone.

Ayase Ueda Playing Style

Ueda mainly plays as a centre-forward.

One of his strongest qualities is movement without the ball. A striker does not always need to dribble past several defenders. Sometimes the most important skill is knowing where to move before the ball arrives.

Ueda regularly looks for space between or behind defenders.

He can finish with his feet, attack crosses and compete for headers. His development in European football has also helped him become more comfortable playing against strong and physical defenders.

His 25-goal Eredivisie season showed how dangerous those qualities can become when combined with regular playing time and confidence.

Ayase Ueda Wife

Ayase Ueda is married to Natsuki Yufu, a Japanese model.

His management agency announced the marriage in February 2022. In Ueda’s statement, he said that he was marrying Yufu after the couple had been dating and expressed his wish to build a happy and peaceful family together.

Ueda generally keeps much of his private life away from football coverage, so unconfirmed claims about his family or personal relationships should not be treated as fact.

Ayase Ueda Net Worth and Salary

There is no reliable public source confirming Ayase Ueda’s exact net worth.

Many websites publish estimated footballer net-worth figures, but such numbers can be misleading when they are not supported by financial records, official disclosures or trustworthy reporting.

For that reason, an exact net-worth figure should not be presented as confirmed.

His professional income comes primarily from his career as a footballer, but his exact current salary has not been publicly established by the reliable sources used for this biography.

Current Club and Contract

As of August 9, 2026, Ayase Ueda remains listed in Feyenoord’s first-team squad as a forward wearing number 9.

His contract signed when joining Feyenoord runs until June 2028.

Transfer stories can change quickly, so reported interest from another club should not be confused with an officially completed transfer.

Major Career Achievements

Some of Ueda’s most important achievements include:

• Becoming a Japan senior international.
• Representing Japan at the FIFA World Cup.
• Playing professional football in Japan, Belgium and the Netherlands.
• Scoring 47 goals in 103 appearances for Kashima Antlers across all competitions.
• Scoring 23 goals in 42 games for Cercle Brugge.
• Joining Feyenoord on a long-term contract.
• Winning the 2025–26 Eredivisie top-scorer award with 25 goals.
• Winning Eredivisie Player of the Month for October 2025.
• Scoring twice against Tunisia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
• Becoming the first Japanese player to score twice in one FIFA World Cup match.

Why Is Ayase Ueda Famous?

Ayase Ueda is famous because of his goals for both club and country.

His story also stands out because his career did not begin with instant European fame. He developed through Japanese youth and university football, succeeded with Kashima Antlers, proved himself in Belgium and then established himself with Feyenoord.

His 2025–26 Eredivisie Golden Boot and 2026 World Cup performances gave him greater international recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ayase Ueda?

Ayase Ueda is a Japanese professional striker who plays for Feyenoord and represents the Japan national team.

How old is Ayase Ueda?

Ayase Ueda was born on August 28, 1998. He is 27 years old as of August 9, 2026.

Where was Ayase Ueda born?

He was born in Mito, Japan.

How tall is Ayase Ueda?

The Japan Football Association lists him at 182 cm, or approximately 6 feet tall.

Which club does Ayase Ueda play for?

As of August 9, 2026, Ueda is listed as a Feyenoord first-team forward.

What number does Ayase Ueda wear?

Feyenoord currently lists Ueda as its number 9.

Who is Ayase Ueda’s wife?

Ayase Ueda is married to Japanese model Natsuki Yufu. Their marriage was publicly announced in February 2022.

What is Ayase Ueda’s net worth?

There is no trustworthy publicly confirmed figure for Ayase Ueda’s exact net worth. Estimates published without reliable financial evidence should not be treated as facts.

How many goals did Ayase Ueda score in the 2025–26 Eredivisie?

Ueda scored 25 league goals and finished as the Eredivisie’s top scorer.

What record did Ayase Ueda set at the 2026 World Cup?

He became the first Japanese footballer to score twice in a single FIFA World Cup match, achieving the record during Japan’s 4–0 victory over Tunisia.

Final Words

Ayase Ueda’s career shows how steady development can lead to success at the highest level.

From Hosei University and Kashima Antlers to Cercle Brugge and Feyenoord, each stage helped him become a more complete striker.

His 25-goal Eredivisie season established him as one of the Netherlands’ leading forwards, while his historic performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup strengthened his reputation internationally.

At 27, Ueda remains in an important period of his football career, with the opportunity to add more goals, achievements and memorable moments for both Feyenoord and Japan.