Daizen Maeda, born on the 20th of October 1997 in Japan, is a formidable forward currently showcasing his skills as a left winger for Celtic Football Club. At a nimble 1.73m (5ft 8in) in height and weighing 68kg (10st 9lb), the agile Japanese player proudly adorns Celtic’s number 38 jersey. Maeda’s prowess on the pitch has not only caught the attention of Celtic fans but has also seen him named to the Japan national team.
A testament to his potential, Maeda's current market value stands at approximately £6.5m, according to Transfermarkt. His ongoing contract with Celtic, set to conclude at the end of May 2027, shows that the club remains confident in his valuable contribution to their schemes.
Maeda’s story began in earnest in January 2016 when he joined Matsumoto Yamaga of the Japanese lower leagues. His debut season saw him take to the field in nine league matches. During the 2019 season, he managed to tuck away two goals in 18 appearances. The following year, the forward was loaned out to Mito Hollyhock in the J2 League and made a notable impact, scoring eight goals in just 20 appearances. When his loan spell concluded, he returned to Matsumoto Yamaga, appearing 27 times and netting another two goals over the next two seasons.
In July 2019, his journey took him from Japan to Portugal as he embarked on a loan spell at Marítimo in the Liga Portugal 2. Here, Maeda made 23 appearances and scored three goals. His performance caught the eye of Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, and in August 2020, he was transferred there for an undisclosed fee. Maeda’s time at Yokohama F. Marinos was remarkable, culminating in a 2021 season where he scored 23 goals in 36 appearances.
However, it was his move to Celtic in January 2022 that really propelled his career. Initially joining on loan, Maeda made an immediate impact, scoring six goals in just 16 appearances. Recognising his ability, Celtic sealed a full transfer from Yokohama F. Marinos for around £1.4m in July 2022. Since then, Maeda has become a consistent performer, appearing regularly on the Celtic team sheet and keeping the scoreboard ticking over with his goal-scoring prowess. Between the 2022 and 2024 seasons, Maeda made 79 appearances and scored 19 goals. This season, he's added another 5 goals to his Celtic tally in 20 appearances.
To top it all off, Maeda has also made his mark on the international stage. He has not only represented Celtic in the prestigious Champions League, scoring vital goals in the 2023 - 2024 and 2024 - 2025 campaigns, but has also been part of the Japan side competing in the World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024 - 2026, where he managed to find the back of the net in one of his six appearances.
Daizen Maeda’s career has been a narrative of consistent improvement and growing influence. As he continues to ply his trade in the green and white of Celtic, fans eagerly anticipate his future feats on the hallowed turf of Celtic Park.
