is a Japanese professional football player who currently plays as a midfielder for Japanese WE League club Omiya Ardija Ventus. She played for Japan at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, winning silver at the former and bronze at the latter.
Career
Influenced by her father, a football coach, Nakada started playing football at the age of 6. In elementary school she joined the strongest club in her prefecture, Fortuna SC. In junior high school, she competed for Japan at the U-15 level. At the U-17 level, she contributed to Japan's second place at the U-17 Women's World Cup, held in Trinidad at Tobago in 2010. She was a member of the Japanese team that won the bronze medal at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.In the spring of 2012, at the age of 18, she joined INAC Kobe Leonessa.
Outside football
For years Ayu Nakada has been a hot topic in Japan, attracting much attention for her looks (cuteness, idol-like/model-like appearance).
In 2014, she placed fifth in the survey "Which Japanese female soccer player would you want to date?". In 2016, she was selected to be the face of the poster promoting the Internet filtering rules for schools and other children's facilities, newly adopted in Hyogo Prefecture.
Career statistics
Club
Honours
Club
Tokiwagi Gakuen High School LSC
All Japan High School Women's Soccer Tournament: 2009, 2011
Challenge League East: 2010, 2011
INAC Kobe Leonessa
Japan Women's Football League: 2012, 2013
Empress's Cup All-Japan Women's Soccer Championship Tournament: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 Nadeshiko League Cup: 2013 Japan and South Korea Women's League Championship: 2012
International
Japan U19
AFC U-19 Women's Championship: 2011
Other appearances
Television
(BS Asahi)