Ayase Ueda was born on 28 August 1998 in Mito, Ibaraki, and rose through Kashima Antlers' youth system. Rather than turn pro immediately, he attended Hosei University, where he won the All Japan University Football Championship and was widely regarded as the best striker in Japanese university football of his year. He signed for Kashima Antlers in 2019 and quickly delivered on his potential as one of the J1 League's most clinical finishers.
In summer 2022 he made his European move, joining Cercle Brugge in Belgium. A productive season earned him a transfer to Feyenoord in 2023, where his goal-scoring eventually exploded. In 2024–25 he scored 7 in 21 Eredivisie matches; in 2025–26 he stepped up emphatically with 25 league goals in 30 matches, putting himself firmly in the Eredivisie golden boot conversation. He also scored in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League across his Feyenoord seasons.
A complete number 9 — strong in the air, calm in front of goal and tirelessly mobile — Ueda has become arguably Japan's most reliable centre forward. He scored 4 goals in 5 matches at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and has continued to deliver for Japan in international friendlies and qualifying campaigns ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With Feyenoord he has lifted the KNVB Beker (2023–24) and the Dutch Super Cup.