Daizen Maeda, born on 20 October 1997, in Japan, is a notable forward who predominantly plays as a left winger for Celtic Football Club. Standing 5ft 8in (1.73m) tall and weighing 10st 9lb (68kg), Maeda has a commendable physical presence on the pitch. Adorned with the number 38 jersey, he has not only carved a distinguished career in Scotland but also represents the Japan national team.
According to Transfermarkt, Maeda's current market value is approximately £12.00m.
Emerging from the Japan Lower Leagues, Maeda embarked on his professional football journey with Matsumoto Yamaga in January 2016. Despite only making nine first team appearances in his debut 2016 season, by 2019, he had etched an indelible mark by scoring twice in 18 league games.
The following year saw Maeda loaned out to Mito Hollyhock in the J2 League, a grand arena where he boasted an impressive tally of eight goals from 20 appearances in the 2017 season. Yet, his allegiance to Matsumoto Yamaga remained unwavering as he returned to his original club in 2018, replicating his usual diligent performances.
Following this, in July 2019, Maeda was loaned to Marítimo in Liga Portugal 2, marking his first out-of-Japan venture. Despite new surroundings, he scored three goals from 23 appearances in the 2019-2020 seasons. This international sojourn was followed by a transfer to Yokohama F. Marinos in the J1 League in 2020, where he netted a phenomenal three goals from 23 appearances in the 2020 season and a staggering 23 goals from 36 appearances in 2021, which unquestionably skyrocketed his market value.
Yet, it was January 2022 when Maeda embraced a turning point in his football career - his transfer to Celtic in Scotland on loan. From the 2021-2022 season through to the current 2025-2026 season, Maeda's performance tallied up to a whopping 139 first team appearances and 43 goals in league matches, signifying his tremendous contribution to Celtic's forward line.
Capitalising on his commendable prowess, Celtic intervened in July 2022 to permanently transfer Maeda from Yokohama F. Marinos for around £1.4m. This investment has proven fruitful over the years as Maeda continues to dazzle in the 2025-2026 season with 25 first team appearances and seven goals so far.
Besides the league, Maeda isn’t a stranger to prominent football tournaments having participated in World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024 – 2026 for Japan, Champions League Qualifiers 2025 - 2026, and Europa League 2025 - 2026 for Celtic, and even drawing a goal from three starts in the League Cup 2025 - 2026 for Celtic. A sterling football journey indeed.
