Striker Ayase Ueda has been performing brilliantly in the Netherlands and has a great chance of moving to the Premier League in the summer 2026 transfer window.
Ueda is being pursued by a number of English clubs.
At 27 years old, Ueda is having the best season of his career. He leads the Eredivisie top scorer list with 25 goals in 29 matches, far ahead of second-placed Mika Godts of Ajax by 9 goals. On April 25th, he continued to shine by scoring a brace to help Feyenoord thrash Groningen 3-1.
Joining Feyenoord from Cercle Brugge in 2023 for a fee of €9 million, Ueda didn't take long to adapt. After scoring a total of 14 goals in his first two seasons, he truly transformed in the 2025/26 season with 26 goals in 38 matches across all competitions, solidifying his status as a top-class striker.
This dazzling form quickly attracted attention from many English clubs. A number of clubs such as Tottenham, Brighton, Everton and Leeds United were all reportedly monitoring the Japanese striker. Tottenham quickly made initial inquiries, while Leeds hoped that the advantage from their connection with compatriot Ao Tanaka could give them an edge in the race.
If the deal goes through, Ueda will become one of the most notable Japanese players in the Premier League, continuing the wave of Asian stars increasingly establishing themselves in Europe.
Given his current form, it will be a difficult task for Feyenoord to retain their star striker. And if he leaves Rotterdam, Ueda could completely open a brilliant new chapter in his career in the most demanding environment on the planet.