Ayase Ueda, the Japanese striker sold by Cercle Brugge three years ago, has completed a 15 million euro move to Lille. The Belgian sports outlet Sporza reported the deal on Tuesday. The 28-year-old forward leaves Feyenoord after a strong season where he netted 25 goals in 31 matches.
Cercle Brugge themselves have had a difficult start to the season and currently sit 13th in the Jupiler Pro League with just two points from four games. Coach Miron Muslic's team is yet to win a match and their recent form reads LLDD. The green-and-black club has scored five goals and conceded seven, resulting in a -2 goal difference. They already trail leaders Charleroi by ten points. The next opportunity for points comes on September 6th, a home fixture against KAA Gent, who are third in the table. Winger Joel Ndala is currently listed on the injuries page.
What does the transfer mean for Cercle?
The sale of Ayase Ueda to Feyenoord for eight million euros in 2023 was a significant financial operation for Cercle Brugge at the time. His subsequent sale to Lille for double that fee highlights the club's scouting prowess. The funds from that initial sale helped the club further build its squad. Fans can follow the current team composition on our squad page.
How did Ueda perform after leaving?
Ayase Ueda developed into one of the Eredivisie's most prolific forwards in Rotterdam. His 25 goals last season were vital for Feyenoord. He also started this season strongly, scoring three goals in his final three appearances for the Dutch side. This form made him an attractive target for Lille, who were seeking a replacement for the departed Jonathan Fernandez-Pardo.
What other transfers took place?
The transfer market was in full swing. Lyon's Malick Fofana was linked with a move to Arsenal for a fee around 40 million euros. Manchester City signed Brazilian winger Allan from Palmeiras for approximately 40 million euros. One of the biggest deals saw Bradley Barcola move from PSG to Liverpool for over 100 million euros. "It took a while, but I am very happy to be able to play for Liverpool," Barcola said. "I hope to achieve great things here. Winning the Premier League is one of my biggest goals."
There was significant defensive movement too. Ezri Konsa moved from Aston Villa to Arsenal for about 60 million euros. Dutch defender Lutsharel Geertruida returned to PSV on loan with an option to buy, after playing 28 Premier League games for RB Leipzig. For the full league standings, you can check our standings page.
What's next for Cercle?
The focus for Cercle Brugge now is entirely on climbing the table. The home match against Gent on September 6th is a key opportunity to turn things around. The club will hope the scouting that originally brought Ueda to Bruges can unearth another gem. Preparations for that fixture are underway, as shown on the fixtures schedule.
