Ayase Ueda close to joining Lille

Feyenoord are preparing for the potential departure of their Japanese striker Ayase Ueda in the final days of the summer transfer window, as the 28-year-old has attracted serious interest from a foreign club. Reports suggest that the likely destination is Lille in France.

According to Dutch newspaper AD, the departure of Oueda is in progress, although the financial value that Feyenoord will receive for the deal has not yet been disclosed.

Oueda was the top scorer in the Dutch league last season, attracting the attention of several clubs, but serious interest in him only materialized in the final days of the transfer window.

Lille are interested in signing the Japanese striker following the sale of young Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi to Manchester City for €95 million, while the French club has only spent €20 million this summer, including €12.5 million to sign winger Basar Ünal from NEC Nijmegen.

Lille will participate in the UEFA Champions League this season after finishing third in Ligue 1 last season, where the draw has placed them in tough matches against Arsenal, Galatasaray, and Bayern Münich.

Oueda scored for Feyenoord on Sunday against ADO Den Haag in a match that ended 2-2. His contract with the Dutch club runs until the summer of 2028.

Feyenoord signed Japanese striker Daizen Maeda in 2023 from Cercle Brugge for €8 million. After a long period as a substitute for Mexican Santiago Giménez, Maeda became the team's main striker following Giménez's departure to AC Milan in January 2025.