Last week, Daizen Maeda signed a new contract with Celtic, extending his stay at the club until at least the summer of 2027. Under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, Maeda is expected to reach new performance levels.
Rodgers has expressed his intention to utilise Maeda’s skills fully. He recently discussed Maeda’s key attributes, stating to Football Scotland, “You can’t underestimate his speed. He’s a player different from some of the others. Some of the other players’ strengths are dribbling and taking people on, but he gives the team his ability to play in several positions.”
Rodgers’ comments highlight Maeda’s versatility. Although Maeda has primarily played on the left for Celtic after his initial few games, Rodgers may have plans to deploy him in different positions.
During the Scottish Viaplay Cup Football Semi-Final between Celtic and Kilmarnock on 14th January 2023 at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Daizen Maeda represented Celtic.
Rodgers and his coaching team believe they can help Maeda improve his goal-scoring ability. He said, “He works tirelessly and if we can help him add more goals to his game then you’ll see him constantly improve, hopefully.”
Rodgers wouldn’t have offered a new contract to Maeda if he didn’t see potential in him. The new Celtic boss clearly believes that the 25-year-old can make a significant contribution in the future, a sentiment that fans hope will be realised.
