Daizen Maeda, born on the 20th of October, 1997, is a Japanese footballer well-established in his position as a forward for the esteemed Celtic Football Club. Standing at 5ft 8in (1.73m) and weighing a solid 10st 9lb (68kg), the number 38 is also known for his contributions to the Japan national team.
As Transfermarkt indicates, his current approximate market value is around £6.5m. With his contract set to run out on the 31st of May, 2027, Maeda still has a comfortable 2 years and 4 months remaining with Celtic.
Looking back at his career, Maeda started his professional journey in January 2016, joining Matsumoto Yamaga in Japan's lower leagues. His first season saw him making nine appearances for his club, followed by a season in 2019 where he scored two league goals in 18 appearances.
In an interesting turn of events, Maeda was loaned to Mito Hollyhock in Japan's J2 League in January 2017. This resulted in an impressive performance with 20 appearances and eight goals. However, he returned to Matsumoto Yamaga in 2018 and replicated his previous performance with two goals scored in 18 appearances.
In July 2019, Maeda was off to Portugal's Liga Portugal 2, joining Marítimo on loan. This venture led to 23 appearances and three goals. The following year, Maeda made another move, transferring back to Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos, where he upped his game, scoring three goals in 23 appearances in 2020 and a remarkable 23 goals in 36 appearances in 2021.
In January 2022, Maeda made his much-anticipated move to Celtic in the Premiership on loan. He quickly made himself at home, scoring six goals in 16 appearances in his debut 2021-2022 season. The seasons that followed saw consistent results from Maeda, with 35 appearances and eight goals in the 2022-2023 season, 28 appearances and six goals in the 2023-2024 season, and an ongoing 2024-2025 season that already showcases eight goals in 23 matches.
In July 2022, Maeda's loan to Celtic turned into a permanent deal costing around £1.4m. His performances remained steadfast, mirroring his results over the past two seasons. He continues to play an integral role in Celtic's forward line, showcasing adept skills and fierce determination on the field.
His time at Celtic has not been without its highlights, such as his participation in the Champions League 2023-2024 with four starts, the League Cup 2024-2025 where he made an impactful six goals over three starts, the Scottish Cup 2024-2025 with four goals over a mere two starts, and the ongoing World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024-2026 where he's already scored for Japan in one start and five substitute appearances. Not forgetting the current Champions League 2024-2025 where Maeda has already managed four goals in nine starts.
Daizen Maeda's career is far from over, and one can only speculate about the heights he may yet reach with Celtic and beyond.
