Daizen Maeda, born on 20th October 1997, is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward, primarily as a left winger, for Celtic Football Club. He stands at 5ft 8in (1.73m) in height and weighs 10st 9lb (68kg). He is the proud owner of the number 38 jersey and has also represented his country on the international stage.
The current market value for Maeda is approximately €11.0m, which converts to about £9.5m (Transfermarkt). His current contract with Celtic is set to expire on 31st May 2027, with over two years still to run.
Maeda's journey to Scotland was rich in experience; he started his career at Matsumoto Yamaga in the Japan Lower Leagues in January 2016. His inaugural season saw him make nine first team appearances in league matches. During the 2019 season, he managed to reel in a count of 18 first team appearances and netted two goals. In January 2017, Maeda transferred to Mito Hollyhock in the J2 League, again in Japan, on loan. This season saw him make 20 first appearances and score eight goals.
January 2018 saw him return to Matsumoto Yamaga upon completion of his loan, where he accumulated an admirable record of first team appearances and goals. His capacity for vigorous performances didn't go unnoticed by Marítimo in Liga Portugal 2 who secured him on loan from Matsumoto Yamaga in July 2019. Once again, his capability on the pitch was demonstrated with 23 first team appearances and three goals.
In August 2020, Maeda's club loyalties shifted to Yokohama F. Marinos in the J1 League, Japan, for an undisclosed fee. Here he continued to impress over two seasons with a total of 59 first team appearances and 26 goals.
In January 2022, Maeda transferred to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on loan. His performances over three seasons have garnered a remarkable record; He has scored a cumulative total of 36 goals from his 109 first team appearances.
By July 2022, Maeda made a permanent shift from Yokohama F. Marinos to Celtic for a fee of around £1.4m. Thus far in the 2024-2025 season, Maeda has made an impact, with 30 appearances and an impressive 16 goals to his name. Beyond the league games, Maeda also displayed competence in various tournaments, including Champions League 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 for Celtic, League Cup 2024-2025 for Celtic, Scottish Cup 2024-2025 for Celtic, and World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024 -2026 for Japan.
