Daizen Maeda, a gifted forward primarily operating on the left wing for Celtic, was born on the 20th October 1997 in Japan. Standing at 5ft 8in (1.73m) and weighing 10st 9lb (68kg), he dons the number 38 jersey for Celtic and has previously been called up to the Japan national team. As of now, Transfermarkt notes his market value is estimated at around £6.5m, and his contract length with Celtic is set for another 2 and a half years, due to expire in May 2027.
Maeda's professional career kicked off in earnest in January 2016, when he joined Matsumoto Yamaga in the Japan Lower Leagues. Although only making nine appearances in his debut season, he managed to increase this count to 18 by the 2019 season, netting two goals in the process. His talent was recognised, and in January 2017, he was loaned out to Mito Hollyhock in the Japanese J2 League, where fitness saw him make 20 appearances and impressively contribute eight goals.
After returning from his loan spell to Matsumoto Yamaga in January 2018, he repeated his feat of the previous season, delivering another two goals over 18 appearances. However, it was following a loan move to Marítimo in the Portuguese Liga Portugal 2 in July 2019 that different doors began to open. Despite only managing to score three times over his 23 appearances, his next move would prove crucial. By August 2020, he was transferred back to Japan to play for Yokohama F. Marinos in the J1 League for a fee that remains undisclosed. His first season summoned what could perhaps be described as only a moderate success (3 goals, 23 appearances).
Maeda eventually responded to Celtic's overtures and joined the Premiership team initially on loan starting January 2022. This loan was converted into a permanent transfer for a fee around £1.4m in July 2022. The moody Scottish climate might have initially been a shock to the lad from the land of the rising sun, but he quickly made himself at home. In his first season (2021-2022), he scored six goals in 16 appearances, a ratio that improved the following season to eight goals in 35 appearances. His exploits continued into the 2023-2024 season at Celtic, where he made 28 first team appearances, this time however only managing to net six goals. And, in the current 2024-2025 season, at the time of this writing, he's scored twice in his 14 appearances.
His time at Celtic has been marked by participation in notable competitions such as the Champions League during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons, an impactful stint at the League Cup 2024-2025 where he scored five goals in two starts, and representing Japan in the World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024-2026, where he's made one start so far, and came in as a substitute five times.
