Born on 20 October 1997 in Japan, Daizen Maeda, who dually serves his nation on the international pitch, is an accomplished forward and left winger for Celtic. Standing at an athletic 5ft 8in (1.73m) and measuring 10st 9lb (68kg) in weight, this player, no stranger to the grandeur of the turf, dons the number 38 jersey.
A known and respected personality within the realm of football, Maeda’s current market value hovers around £11.5m, according to data from Transfermarkt.
In January 2016, Maeda commenced his journey at Matsumoto Yamaga, marking his presence with nine first team appearances in his nascent league matches. His growth was commendable, evident in his 18 appearances and two goals for Matsumoto Yamaga in 2019.
With the advent of 2017, Maeda moved from Matsumoto Yamaga to Mito Hollyhock in the J2 League on loan. His record here too was respectable as he made 20 appearances for the team, scoring eight goals. However, the subsequent year ushered him back to his former team, Matsumoto Yamaga where he replicated his successful performances from previous years.
July 2019 saw Maeda shifting his loyalties to Marítimo in the Liga Portugal 2. Over the course of the season, he made 23 appearances and added three goals to his tally. His journey continued, with a move to Yokohama F. Marinos in the J1 League for an undisclosed fee in August 2020. His tenure here was marked by consistent performances. Maeda scored three goals in 23 matches in 2020, subsequently escalating his performance with a stunning 23 goals in 36 matches for the 2021 season.
2022 was indeed a significant year for Maeda as it heralded the start of his association with Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, initially on loan. Over his time at Celtic, spanning from the 2021 to 2022 season to the ongoing 2025 and 2026 season, Maeda’s contributions to the team have been valuable. A fixture on the team, he has scored 43 goals across his 138 appearances.
This association metamorphosed into a full-fledged transfer in July 2022, with Maeda officially shifting from Yokohama F. Marinos to Celtic for a reported fee of around £1.4m. Since then, Celtic has indeed become a home ground for Maeda, as seen by his ongoing and impressive contributions to the team.
Over the course of his career, Maeda has proven his mettle in various championships. From scoring goals in the League Cup 2025 - 2026 for Celtic, to leaving his impact in the World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024 - 2026 for Japan, his journey is also marked by his commendable performances in the Champions League and the Europa League for Celtic.
