Daizen Maeda, who was born on the 20th of October 1997, is a left-winger forward hailing from Japan. Currently, he dons the Celtic jersey with the number 38. Maeda stands at 5ft 8in (1.73m) tall and weighs in at 10st 9lb (68kgs). Aside from his club commitments, Maeda represents the Japan national side on the international front.
His current market value is roughly pegged at £12.7 million, courtesy of a valuation by Transfermarkt.
His professional stint began in January 2016 when he signed for Matsumoto Yamaga, a club in the Japanese lower leagues. In his initial season, he featured in nine league games. By the 2019 season, he made 18 appearances for the club and managed to net two goals. Maeda temporarily switched loyalties to Mito Hollyhock, competing in the J2 League in Japan, on loan in January 2017 where he netted eight times from 20 bouts. After his loan spell, he returned to Matsumoto Yamaga to continue plying his trade in Japan.
In July 2019, he was loaned to Portuguese side Marítimo, where he made his mark by scoring three times from 23 league games. The following August, he moved back to Japan, this time around to Yokohama F. Marinos in the J1 League, for an undisclosed amount. In his first season there, he played 23 matches, scoring three goals. The next season saw him flourish as he scored 23 goals from 36 league outings.
Maeda's career took him to Scotland in January 2022, when he signed for Celtic on loan. The 2021-2022 season saw him mark his debut campaign with six goals from 16 games. In the subsequent season, Maeda tallied eight goals from 35 games, followed by six goals from 28 games in the 2023-2024 season. The 2024-2025 season was a breakout year for the Japanese international, as he found the back of the net 16 times from 34 matches. Currently, in the 2025-2026 season, he has scored twice from eight appearances.
His permanent move to Celtic came in July 2022, with the club agreeing to a deal worth around £1.4m. Since then, he has carried forward his impressive form, gradually establishing himself as a crucial piece in the Celtic's forward line.
Additionally, Maeda's performances haven't been confined just to league matches. In Celtic colours, he has also made his mark in the prestigious Champions League, the League Cup, and the Scottish Cup, besides playing a key role for Japan in the World Cup Qualifiers. His consistent tenacity and deft footwork have unfolded memorable moments in Champions League qualifiers and the Europa League.
