Daizen Maeda, a Japanese forward who specialises in left winging duties for Celtic, came into the world on 20th October 1997, making him 28 years old. Standing at 5ft 8in (1.73m) tall and with a weight of 10st 9lb (68kg), he dons the number 38 jersey for Celtic, while also representing the national team of Japan.
As evidenced by a report from Transfermarkt, Maeda's current market value is expected to be around £12m.
His professional football career kick-started in January 2016 when he joined Matsumoto Yamaga, a team in Japan's lower leagues. In his debut season, Maeda made nine appearances in league matches. However, by the 2019 season, he had considerably improved, culminating in him scoring two goals for Matsumoto Yamaga in 18 first team league appearances.
In January 2017, Maeda joined Mito Hollyhock in the J2 League on loan, where he made 20 appearances and scored eight goals in league matches. However, a year later, in January 2018, he returned to Matsumoto Yamaga, where he continued to mature, scoring two goals from 18 league matches in the 2019 season.
By July 2019, Maeda was on the move once again, this time finding himself in Portugal, as he was loaned out to Liga Portugal 2 side, Marítimo. Despite this being his maiden season, Maeda was able to score three goals from 23 league appearances.
In August 2020, Maeda transferred to Yokohama F. Marinos in the Japanese J1 League for a fee that was not disclosed. It was here he had his most successful season, scoring a notable 23 goals in just 36 league matches during the 2021 season.
In January 2022, a new chapter of Maeda's career began, as he transferred to Celtic on loan. In his debut season (2021-2022) at Celtic, he made 16 first team appearances and scored six goals in league matches. His increasingly impressive performances in the next seasons showcased his continuous development. By the 2024-2025 season, Maeda scored 16 goals from 34 league appearances.
Having proven himself on loan, Maeda's transfer to Celtic became permanent in July 2022 with a fee of around £1.4m. He continued his strong form for Celtic, with his best season to date being the 2024 - 2025 season where he scored 16 goals in 34 league appearances.
Not just a force in domestic leagues, Maeda has featured prominently in multiple competitions, including the Champions League 2023 - 2024 for Celtic with four starts, League Cup 2025 - 2026 for Celtic, during which he scored a goal over three starts and one appearance as a substitute. Moreover, he also played a role in Celtic's 2025 - 2026 Europa League campaign with four starts and one appearance as a substitute. His international pedigree has also been evidenced in the World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024 - 2026 for Japan where he scored a goal over two starts and five substitute appearances.
