Who is Daizen Maeda? Meet Celtic’s energetic, free-scoring talisman

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Daizen Maeda is one of Celtic’s star players and most consistent performers in recent years.

Brought to Celtic Park on 31 December 2021, the forward was signed by Ange Postecoglou on loan before making the move permanent that summer.

From then on, the Japan international has gone from strength to strength, winning every domestic trophy and playing a huge role in Celtic’s success.

Maeda was handed three separate awards, including the coveted player of the year prize for his performances under Brendan Rodgers in the 24/25 campaign.

Here is absolutely everything you need to know about Celtic talisman Daizen Maeda as we answer all of your frequently asked questions.

• READ MORE: Daizen Maeda’s value has increased by incredible 587% since joining Celtic

How old is Daizen Maeda?

Daizen Maeda was born on 20 October 1997 in Taishi, Osaka, Japan. He began his career at Matsumoto Yagama, making his first-team debut on 28 February 2016.

After spells at Mito HollyHock and then Maritimo in Portugal, Maeda signed for Yokohoma Marinos.

Two season later, the forward signed for Celtic in December 2021.

As of May 2025, Maeda is 27 years old.

Daizen Maeda height

Daizen Maeda is 1.73m tall, or 5′ 8″.

Does Daizen Maeda have kids?

Yes, Daizen Maeda has two children. He has one boy, Tensei and one girl, Soyo.

He revealed during an interview with the Scottish Sun in November 2024 that playing with his children helps him to recover from matches.

“I recover my energy by playing with the kids. After a lot of games I take them to soft play centres and that refreshes me. Maybe I have a different way of relaxing from the others, but that works for me.”

How do you pronounce Daizen Maeda?

To pronounce Daizen Maeda, follow this way below:

“Dye-zen” for his first name and “Mah-eh-dah” for his surname.

Daizen Maeda Celtic debut

Daizen Maeda made his debut for Celtic against Hibernian on 17 January 2022 and it was one to remember as he scored four minutes into his debut.

Daizen Maeda salary

View every Celtic player’s weekly wages.

• Weekly wage: £18,000
• Annual salary: £936,000
• Contract expires: June 2027

Daizen Maeda stats appearances & goals for Celtic

Daizen Maeda Celtic song

Daizen Maeda has a song sung by Celtic fans regularly at games.

To the tune of Tequilla by The Champs, the lyrics are simply to shout “Maeda” in unison instead of ‘Tequilla’ before repeating.

Can Daizen Maeda speak English?

Yes, Daizen Maeda can speak English.

Although he isn’t fluent in the language, he can still speak in his second language and has been a part of plenty of interviews with the media.