Daizen Maeda makes winning competitive debut for Ipswich Town

Former Celtic icon Daizen Maeda made his competitive debut for Ipswich Town against Sunderland, in the Suffolk side’s return to the English Premier League this afternoon…

Daizen Maeda of Ipswich Town is challenged by Granit Xhaka of Sunderland during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Ipswich Town and Sunderland at Portman Road on August 22, 2026. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Daizen signed for the Tractor boys in a £10 million deal last month, after a hugely successful four and a half year stint in the Hoops that saw him score 79 goals in 212 appearances, winning 10 major honours along the way.

Unsurprisingly the Japanese international was named in Gary O’Neil’s starting line up, and despite a packed Portman Road roaring their team on in their Premier League return, it would have felt a million miles away from Daizen’s last league appearance in a Celtic shirt, which saw him score a vital goal in a memorable last day title win over Hearts in front of 60,000 supporters.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic reacts after scoring his team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park on May 16, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Portman Road holds half that number, and despite doing their best to make it a great atmosphere, it pales into insignificance with what Daizen would have experienced at Celtic Park on a big match-day or under the lights for a European encounter, which he is highly unlikely to experience at Ipswich, with all due respect.

Daizen is not down south to sample the atmosphere though, he’s down to test himself in a different playing environment in the richest league in the world, and today he got his wish as he played 80 minutes in an entertaining end-to-end contest.

Daizen Maeda of Ipswich during the during the pre-season friendly match between Ipswich Town and Rayo Vallecano at Portman Road on August 08, 2026 . (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The 28 year old started on his much familiar left hand side of the Ipswich attack, as Gary O’Neil utilised a 4-2-3-1 formation with fellow new signing Emersonn leading the attack, and it was the Brazilian striker who opened the scoring against the Black Cats in a 2-1 win for the home side.

Nilson Angulo Levelled the scoring for the Mackims with a superb free kick six minutes before the interval.

The game was settled late on as a 90th minute winner by substitute Jack Clarke gave Ipswich a dream start on their return to the top flight.

Daizen had a decent debut, without being spectacular. With his non-stop running and forays into the opposition box still as sharp as ever. It wasn’t as good as his Celtic debut where he scored against Hibs at Celtic Park in the opening minutes back in January 2022.

Still it’s the Japanese striker’s first taste of English football and playing with his new teammates, and he will be all the better for the experience. For Ipswich getting three points on the board on the opening day of the season is hugely significant. And Daizen will certainly do his best to keep them up.

Daizen Maeda makes winning competitive debut

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