Daizen Maeda, born on 20 October 1997 (age 28), is a Japanese footballer who primarily plays as a forward. Standing at 1.73m (5ft 8in) tall and weighing in at 68kg (10st 9lb), Maeda is a nimble and adaptive presence on the field, wearing the number 38 jersey. Maeda has proudly represented the Japan national team, further testifying to his skillset and ability. In today's market, according to Transfermarkt, Maeda is valued at around €15.00m (£12.8m).
Maeda's career commenced in January 2016 with a move to Matsumoto Yamaga in Japan's lower leagues. In his debut season, he made nine first team appearances. Come 2019, he managed 18 first team appearances and a score tally of two goals. In January 2017, Maeda embarked on a loan stint with Mito Hollyhock in the J2 League, notching up 20 appearances and eight goals.
Following his loan term, he returned to Matsumoto Yamaga, making continued appearances and solidifying his reputation as a forward. In July 2019, Maeda joined Portuguese side Marítimo on loan. Here, he put in solid performances and scored three goals across his 23 league appearances.
Another chapter began in Maeda's career in August 2020, with a transfer to Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan's top-tier J1 League. In his rewarding spell here, he made 59 first-team appearances and impressively scored 26 goals. However, in January 2022, Maeda set sail for a new adventure, taking his talents to Scotland to join Premiership club Celtic.
This move in particular is noteworthy due to Maeda's lasting impact at Celtic. Initially joining on loan, he immediately made an impression, with 16 first team appearances and six goals in his debut season (2021-2022). An impressive campaign which led to a permanent transfer for a fee of around £1.4m in July 2022. Since then, Maeda has been relentless in front of goal, making 114 appearances and scoring a brilliant 34 goals for the Glasgow giants. He has become a significant part of Celtic's forward line, securing his place in the hearts of the Celtic faithful.
Aside from his club careers, Maeda has staged impressive performances in international competitions such as the Champions League, League Cup, World Cup Qualifiers Asia, Champions League Qualifiers, and the Europa League. His performances and goal-scoring prowess in these competitions underscore the integral role he plays for both club and country.
