Daizen Maeda operating at a “completely different level” after Celtic summer exit.

Daizen Maeda believes the opportunities available to him in the Premier League are at a completely different level compared with what he experienced at Celtic, explaining why every chance to score now carries greater importance. The Japanese forward left Parkhead during the summer to join Ipswich Town, but his start in England has brought a very different challenge from the one he enjoyed in Scotland.

Maeda established himself as an important attacking player at Celtic and finished his final two campaigns with impressive goal returns. He scored 17 times last season and found the net 33 times during the campaign before that. Those figures demonstrated his influence in the Hoops’ forward line and helped make him a familiar threat in competition.

Since moving to Ipswich, however, the 29-year-old has managed just one goal for his new club. That strike came against Manchester City, a match that attracted considerable attention. Maeda has explained that his lower goal return should be viewed in the context of the opportunities he receives, rather than simply as a reflection of his ability to finish.

The forward says he is not getting anywhere near as many chances as he did while playing for Celtic. He pointed to the Manchester City match as an example, explaining that the opportunity he scored from was his only shot in the game. With so few openings available, the pressure to make the most of each one becomes much greater.

Maeda had been confident that an opportunity would eventually arrive. He explained that he continued to work consistently and believed that, sooner or later, he would get the chance he was waiting for. When that moment came against City, he was delighted to take it, particularly because it happened in a game that was attracting so much attention.

He made clear that the identity of the opposition did not change his desire to score. Playing in the Premier League means facing a high standard of competition, and he wanted to make his mark regardless of who stood in front of him. He also understood the importance of contributing goals for Ipswich, especially given the club’s position as a newly promoted team.

Maeda’s comments highlighted the difference between the number of chances he used to receive at Celtic and the limited openings available at Ipswich. He described the contrast as being on a completely different level. In the Manchester City fixture, he felt there was effectively one opportunity, leaving him with a straightforward but significant choice: score with it or finish without a goal.

The Japanese international was pleased that he managed to score with his first attempt against Manchester City. He recognised that Ipswich, as a newly promoted side, needed to be clinical when opportunities appeared. Against Premier League opposition, there may not be many chances to change a game, so converting one can have a major impact.

The former Celtic forward was speaking while representing Japan. Alongside discussing the differences between his club experiences, he revealed that he had been unsure whether he would receive a national-team call-up because of his start to the season.

Maeda admitted that he had thought making the Japan squad would be impossible. Despite those concerns, head coach Hajime Moriyasu selected him and has continued to give him opportunities to feature. The forward expressed gratitude for the manager’s decision and said he wanted to approach his international involvement with a sense of appreciation.

Being selected has clearly mattered to Maeda, particularly at a time when he is adjusting to a new club and trying to establish himself in a different league. He acknowledged that his early-season form had made him question whether he would remain part of the national team picture. Moriyasu’s continued faith has therefore given him another reason to value the opportunity.

His comments also underline that he is not allowing the change in circumstances to stop him working towards improvement. Rather than focusing only on the number of goals he has scored, Maeda is emphasising patience, preparation and the importance of taking the chances that come his way. He believes consistent effort will create opportunities, even if they are less frequent than before.

For Ipswich, Maeda’s ability to convert limited chances could be especially valuable as they compete in the Premier League after promotion. His experience at Celtic gave him a scoring record, but the demands at his new club are different. He is learning that each opportunity must be treated as precious.

His message is that the Premier League leaves little room for wastefulness, particularly for a newly promoted side. With fewer chances to shoot, scoring one goal can make a substantial difference. Maeda is grateful to have earned Japan’s trust and will look to carry his determination into his next appearances for both club and country.