Daizen Maeda, born on 20 October 1997 in Japan, is a left winger for Celtic. Standing at 5ft 8in (1.73m) and weighing 10st 9lb (68kg), he is a formidable forward. He dons the number 38 jersey and has boasted the honour of representing his national team, Japan.
According to Transfermarkt, Daizen's current market value is estimated at around £12.9m. He started his professional career in January 2016, joining Matsumoto Yamaga in the Japanese lower leagues. Despite a modest nine-league appearance in his debut season, Maeda's potency in front of goal was undeniable, netting twice in his 18 appearances in the 2019 season. He brought his similar shooting boots during his loan spell in Mito Hollyhock, scoring an impressive eight goals in 20 league appearances during the 2017 season.
After his successful loan spell, Maeda returned to Matsumoto Yamaga, maintaining his consistent performance. However, a new adventure soon beckoned overseas. In July 2019, Maeda was loaned out to Marítimo in Liga Portugal 2 where he made 23 appearances and scored three goals. His performance caught the eye of J1 league's Yokohama F. Marinos, prompting a move in August 2020 for an undisclosed fee. Maeda flourished in the Japanese top flight, netting an impressive 26 goals in 59 league appearances over two seasons.
Maeda's consistency didn't go unnoticed, earning him a loan move in January 2022 to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. Here, he enjoyed numerous successful seasons. Maeda quickly established himself as a key player for Celtic, scoring 6 goals in 16 appearances in his debut season. Over the subsequent seasons, Maeda demonstrated an impressive goal scoring record. From the 2022-2023 season to the current 2025-2026 season, he has netted 38 goals in 115 appearances.
His performances proved so fruitful that Celtic made his loan move permanent in July 2022 for around £1.4m. Since then, Maeda has maintained his performance levels, reaching double figures in the 2024-2025 season with 16 league goals. Beyond his domestic performances, Maeda also made significant contributions in European and international competitions. He featured in the Champions League 2023-2024, Champions League Qualifiers 2025-2026, and League Cup 2025-2026 for Celtic; he also represented Japan in the World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024-2026.
