BERLIN - French top-division side Lille on Monday announced they have signed Japan striker Ayase Ueda from Feyenoord on a four-year deal.
The 28-year-old from Ibaraki Prefecture was the Dutch Eredivisie's top scorer last season, bagging 25 league goals for the Rotterdam club.
The transfer marks his first foray into one of Europe's "Big Five" leagues. He played for J.League first-division side Kashima Antlers and Belgium's Cercle Brugge before joining Feyenoord in the summer of 2023.
He has appeared in two consecutive World Cups and scored twice for Japan at this year's tournament in North America before their round-of-32 loss to Brazil.
Officially known as Lille Olympique Sporting Club, the side from northern France finished third in Ligue 1 last season and are set to compete in the UEFA Champions League this season.
"We are delighted to announce the signing of Ayase, who will become the first Japanese player in LOSC's history," club president Olivier Letang said in a statement. "Ayase is a proven goalscorer on both the European and international stage. His profile will be a major asset for LOSC."
