*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:50, 25 October 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:50, 25 October 2023 (UTC)
Influenced by her father, a football coach, Nakada started playing football at the age of 6.[7] In elementary school she joined the strongest club in her prefecture, Fortuna SC.[7] In junior high school, she competed for Japan at the U-15 level.[7] 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[7] 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.[7]
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).[8][9][10][11]
In 2014, she placed fifth in the survey "Which Japanese female soccer player would you want to date?".[12] 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.[13]
