Daizen Maeda was born in Osaka on 20 October 1997 (age 28) and built his career in Japan before Celtic came calling. His development included loan football, but the spell that really sharpened the picture was at Yokohama F. Marinos, where his 2021 league season brought 23 goals in 36 appearances.
Celtic signed him from Yokohama F. Marinos in January 2022. He quickly became an important part of the side, not always polished, but hard to ignore: quick, relentless and awkward for defenders who prefer a quieter shift. During his Celtic spell he won four Premiership titles, two League Cups and two Scottish Cups, as well as finishing runner-up in one Scottish Cup.
Maeda left Celtic in July 2026, joining Ipswich Town for around £10m. In 2026-27 he has made seven Premier League appearances, scoring once, and has also played once in the League Cup for Ipswich. He remains active with Japan too, featuring in World Cup and Asian qualifying matches this season.
His market value is around £11m, according to Transfermarkt. From Osaka to Yokohama, then Celtic and Ipswich, Maeda’s career has been built on pace, stamina and useful goals rather than much fuss.
📈 Key stats and insights
