Daizen Maeda was born in Osaka on 20 October 1997 (age 28), and his route through Japanese football was not a straight dash to the top. Early loan football helped put proper first-team miles into his game before Yokohama F. Marinos gave him the platform for his best league season, with 23 goals in 36 appearances in 2021.
Celtic brought him from Yokohama in January 2022, and he quickly became more than just another forward option. His pace, pressing and willingness to do unglamorous work made him useful in a way that did not always need dressing up. During his Celtic spell he won four Scottish Premiership titles, two League Cups and two Scottish Cups.
In July 2026, Maeda left Celtic for Ipswich Town in a deal worth around £10m. At Ipswich, where he is primarily used as a left winger and wears number 38, he has made three Premier League appearances and one League Cup appearance in 2026–27.
He has also remained involved with Japan, making three World Cup appearances and scoring once this season, along with seven Asian World Cup qualifying appearances and one goal. His market value is around £11m, according to Transfermarkt. His career to this point runs from Japan to a successful Celtic spell, then on to the next test in England.
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