Abdulhafiz TeslimAll of a sudden, Everton’s search for a striker in the summer transfer window may have become a little more urgent. News broke on Wednesday evening that Thierno Barry could be on his way out of the club, and his departure could leave the front line in need of a complete rebuild.
Everton head coach David Moyes could soon find himself short of attacking options. The Times’ Paul Joyce first reported that Barry had been the subject of an unexpected bid from RB Leipzig after scoring eight goals in his first (and perhaps last) Premier League season. Should Barry depart, Everton would be left with Beto as their only recognised senior striker.
That’s not a situation the Toffees are likely to be content with, and a new report from TEAMtalk unsurprisingly suggests they’re already building a shortlist – with Japan international Ayase Ueda seemingly near the top.
The striker in question is Japanese international Ayase Ueda, a centre-forward who acts as the spearhead of his national side’s attack and the fulcrum around which their forward line functions.
Noted for his strength and the quality of his hold-up play, Ueda is a traditional number nine who largely fits the profile David Moyes values – a player capable of occupying defenders, creating space for teammates and leading the line effectively. He also happens to be an increasingly prolific goalscorer.
The 27-year-old scored 26 goals in 38 appearances for Feyenoord during the 2025/26 season, comfortably his best return since arriving in the Netherlands after relatively modest returns in his first two campaigns with the club.
If he can replicate that form in the Premier League, he could prove to be a shrewd acquisition, although, like many Eredivisie forwards before him, adapting to English football would still represent a significant challenge.
Where Ueda differs from the stereotypical target man is his stature. Standing just under 6ft tall, he isn’t as imposing as many traditional No. 9s, but he uses his physicality intelligently and possesses an impressive leap that allows him to win more than half of his aerial duels. Nine of his Eredivisie goals last season came with his head.
That relative lack of height may give Everton something to consider as they weigh up their options, but Ueda possesses many of the qualities Moyes typically looks for in a striker and has shown he can produce goals consistently at a high level.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim
