Daizen Maeda, adorned with the birthdate of 20 October 1997 (thus making him a youthful yet experienced figure of 27), is a Japanese footballer with a refined skill for navigating the field as a forward, though a predilection for the left wing is noticeable. His current domicile is Celtic, where his contributions are adorned with the number 38 on his jersey. Straddling both club and national worlds, Maeda has had the honour of representing both Celtic and the Japanese national team. In terms of physicality, he boasts a height of 5ft 8in (1.73m) and tips the scale at 10st 9lb (68kg).
His skill and prowess on the pitch have cemented his current market value at approximately £9.3m, as declared by Transfermarkt. He remains ensconced in Celtic's clutches until 31 May 2027, with a remaining tenure of 2 years and 3 months on his current contract.
Maeda's career timeline reveals a well-travelled path. In January 2016, he joined Matsumoto Yamaga. Within his debut season, his name appeared in the first-team lineup cards nine times. This increased significantly by the season of 2019, his name writing the starting XI 18 times, and twice sinking the ball into opponents' nets.
A shift to Mito Hollyhock in the J2 League occurred in January 2017. In this loan period, Maeda featured 20 times and was the man behind eight successful goals. Upon termination of the loan, he returned to Matsumoto Yamaga in 2018. His record mirrored his previous stint, with 18 appearances and a return of two goals for the 2019 season.
In July of 2019, Maeda jetted off to Portugal to lend his skills to Marítimo under another loan deal, granting the team three goals from his 23 times appearance during the 2019 - 2020 season. His travels led him back home in August 2020, where he permanently settled in the J1 League side, Yokohama F. Marinos in a deal shrouded in mystery regarding the dollar sum. His presence was felt in 36 games and a whopping 23 goals during the 2021 season.
Come January 2022, Maeda began his journey with Celtic as a loanee. His Celtic journey proved fruitful, registering 16 appearances and six goals to his name in what marked the onset of the 2021 - 2022 season. A decisive £1.4 million deal in July 2022 cemented his stay in Celtic. Proving consistency, he registered 35 appearances and eight goals in the 2022 - 2023 season, 28 games and six goals in 2023 - 2024, with the current season bearing witness to 28 appearances and counting, as well as an impressive tally of 15 goals.
The Champion's League also witnessed his talent, earning four starts in the 2023 - 2024 season. Equally notable, his endeavours in various cups such as the League Cup (2024 - 2025) and The Scottish Cup (2024 - 2025) resulted in six and five goals, respectively. His involvement in World Cup Qualifiers, representing team Japan, saw him scoring one goal in seven appearances and equally impressive stint in the Champion's League (2024 - 2025) where he recorded four goals.
