Who remembers when Marinos were great? When they won titles and wern’t languishing at the bottom of the J1 table…Daizen Maeda was part of the glory days before he joined Celtic. Well, he might be leaving the Scottish club soon for pastures new and it’s not a return to Kanagawa.
There’s something ruthless about Daizen Maeda that defies the polite branding of “hard-working forward.” It’s more primal than that. Celtic’s 27-year-old Japanese rocket doesn’t just press defenders—he haunts them. He doesn’t just run the channels—he tears through them like a man chased by fire. And now, after a season that’s made Scottish defences cry for their mothers, Maeda is poised to storm the Premier League.
Maeda: The Relentless Machine in Green and White
Since arriving in Glasgow from Yokohama F. Marinos, Maeda’s journey has been a brutal masterclass in evolution. A loan move turned permanent and quickly turned lethal: 33 goals, 12 assists, and enough shattered backlines to fill a montage set to heavy metal. The man doesn’t stop. He doesn’t tire. He doesn’t blink.
His tireless pressing is a system in itself—so relentless it feels almost cruel. Then-Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, who brought him from Japan and knows exactly how to tweak the dials on his motor, once said Maeda’s energy could power a small nation. That might be an understatement. The man could power the Optus Premier League broadcasting schedule with his sprints alone.
Celtic fans chant his name like it’s a war cry. This season alone, he swept every individual award the club had to offer: Top Goalscorer, Player of the Year, Players’ Player. Even the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award couldn’t ignore the chaos he inflicted.
From J.League Killer to European Terror
Back in Japan, Maeda had already scorched the earth. With 23 goals in the 2021 J.League season, he outgunned everyone, leading the league and becoming the first Yokohama player in nearly two decades to hit such heights. Throw in stints at Mito HollyHock, Matsumoto Yamaga, and a taste of Portugal with CS Marítimo, and you’ve got a forward forged in variety—and pressure.
This is no soft-shoed winger dancing on the flanks in glittery soccer boots. Maeda is a striker of consequence. He’s scored in J1, J2, the Scottish Premiership, and he’s now ready to add his name to the estadísticas de Premier League.
A Premier League Predator in Waiting
The Premier League ladder is stacked with clubs gasping for that edge in the press, that burst of pace down the left, that fearless poacher who can finish with either foot or his head, and still track back like a lunatic.
Where could he end up in the Prem?
Leeds United: In terms of playing style synergy, Maeda is described as a speedy, agile player with frightening acceleration and impressive agility, capable of changing direction wonderfully. He has a tireless work rate, sharp movement off the ball, and the ability to press high up the pitch. He is also noted as a predatory striker with incredible movement and reading of deliveries.
While he is limited in mazy dribbling and his first touch isn’t his strength, he is aware of these weaknesses and plays to his strengths. Sources explicitly state Maeda would be the “exact type of signing [Daniel] Farke needs” at Leeds. He could add pace and power to the front line and fits a high-intensity style of play. Farke’s style at Leeds is described as prominently positional football, being daring in possession, and wanting to have the ball. Maeda’s off-the-ball movement and high pressing capabilities could complement Farke’s system, particularly in regaining possession or exploiting space when teams attack and leave gaps behind.
Regarding having an international teammate, Ao Tanaka is already a central figure in Leeds United’s midfield. He joined Leeds in the summer of 2024 and has played every league game, being instrumental in their season. Tanaka is a Japanese player known for his technical skill, tactical intelligence, calm demeanour on the ball, precise passing, and defensive contributions. Both Maeda and Tanaka are Japanese players. The presence of Tanaka at the club could potentially help Maeda adapt if he were to join Leeds.
West Ham: Maeda is described as a player with a high intensity style, tireless work rate, sharp movement off the ball, and the ability to press high up the pitch. He possesses frightening acceleration and impressive agility, is an intelligent decision maker with good awareness of space, and is noted as a predatory striker who has scored 33 goals this season. He can feature centrally or from the left wing, contributing with versatility.
Graham Potter’s managerial style is centered on being adaptable, fluid, and big on positional rotations, aiming to implement a high-intensity pressing system at West Ham. His teams focus on fluidity over rigid formations and utilize players who can perform various roles and constantly change position during games. Potter’s teams also press opponents, with forwards curving runs to stop recycling play and attempting to lock the ball wide. Maeda’s work rate, pressing ability, versatility, and off-ball movement align well with these tactical principles.
Clubs like West Ham, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Brentford, and Leeds United are already sniffing around. Celtic are holding out for £25 million, sprinkled with Celtic salt and defiance—but that figure isn’t scaring anyone. A Premier League move feels inevitable. The only question is: who wants the fire?
Japanese Football’s Bloodline in England Grows
If Maeda does cross the border, he’ll become the latest in a quietly devastating bloodline. Kaoru Mitoma, now Japan’s top Premier League scorer with 15 goals for Brighton. Shinji Okazaki, the unsung muscle behind Leicester’s miracle. Shinji Kagawa, who brought elegance to Manchester United.
And then there’s Wataru Endo, a midfield warlord for Liverpool. Takehiro Tomiyasu’s defensive stonewalling at Arsenal. Even Takumi Minamino managed to bag a Premier League medal at Anfield.
Maeda’s journey has never been about glamour. He didn’t burst onto the scene with viral goals or TikTok-ready skills. He grafted. He trained like a soldier in a sports team training montage, all sweat, sacrifice, and single-minded rage.
Get ready, England. There’s a bullet train coming—and it’s not stopping for breath.
doragon sports 