Daizen Maeda, a Japanese forward born on 20 October 1997, now plies his trade as a left winger for Celtic. Standing at a height of 1.73m (5ft 8in) and weighing in at 68kg (10st 9lb), he is a compact yet capable player who is quick with the ball at his feet. He carries the number 38 on his jersey, and has the honour of representing his nation on the football pitch for the Japan national team.
According to Transfermarkt, Maeda's market value currently stands at approximately £9.5m, showing a promising indication of his potential. His contract with Celtic nigh on two years away from expiration, on 31 May 2027, demonstrating the club's faith in his abilities.
In January 2016, Maeda found himself embarking on his professional journey with Matsumoto Yamaga in the lower leagues of Japan. His initial season saw him grace the pitch nine times in league matches. Come the 2019 season, he had managed to score twice over the course of 18 games.
January 2017 heralded a brief loan spell at Mito Hollyhock in the J2 League, where his one-time move resulted in eight goals from 20 appearances. Returning to Matsumoto Yamaga at the conclusion of his loan the following year, he once again found the back of the net twice during his 18-game stint in 2019.
A loan move to Marítimo in Portugal's Liga Portugal 2 allowed him to showcase his talent on a European stage, scoring three times for the club during the 2019/2020 season. He then returned to Japan to sign for Yokohama F. Marinos in August 2020 for an undisclosed fee. He first displayed his improved ability in 2020, scoring three goals in 23 games before having a standout season in 2021, with 23 goals from 36 matches.
His talents eventually led him to Scotland, with Celtic identifying him as a suitable addition to their front line in January 2022. During his loan spell, he notched up 16 appearances and six goals in his first season. The subsequent 2022/2023 season saw him net eight times over the course of 35 games, which was sufficient for Celtic to make his move permanent in July 2022 for around £1.4m. Since his permanent signing, Maeda has continually impressed, scoring six goals in 28 appearances during the 2023/2024 season, and already hitting the 16 mark in the current 2024/2025 season.
In addition to his league contributions, Maeda has also been influential in various tournaments. He's participated in the Champions League during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons, scoring a total of four goals. He's also made notable contributions in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup during the 2024/2025 season, finding the net six times and seven times respectively. On the international front, he's represented Japan in the World Cup Qualifiers for Asia, scoring once in seven appearances.
