"I wish it would go down even more." That's Daizen Maeda, talking about his own market value — actively hoping the World Cup hasn't made him too expensive to move. It's a rare thing, a player publicly willing himself cheaper. It also tells you everything about how badly he wants out of Celtic.
Ipswich Town are the club pushing hardest, with Record Sport reporting the newly promoted Premier League side want to move quickly to bring the 28-year-old winger to Portman Road. For Maeda, the destination couldn't be more fitting — Premier League football has been the explicit goal.
"Playing in the Premier League has been my dream for a long time," he said. That's not hollow ambition. After a World Cup where he raised his profile considerably, the interest is real and the window to act is now.
A move that nearly happened last summer
This isn't the first time Celtic and Maeda have been at this crossroads. Last summer, he reportedly emptied his locker at Lennoxtown. Wolfsburg were expected to be the destination. Then Adam Idah left, Celtic were suddenly short of a recognised striker, and the deal collapsed on deadline day.
What followed was a rough patch in form — understandable from someone who had mentally checked out — before Maeda rediscovered himself spectacularly, scoring in six consecutive games including both the title decider against Hearts and the Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline. He gave Celtic everything even after the club kept him against his wishes. That matters.
Brendan Rodgers, now departed himself, had confirmed Maeda made his desire to leave known back in February 2025. So this has been building for over a year.
What this means for Celtic — and the betting picture
Celtic losing Maeda isn't just a squad depth issue. He's been one of their most reliable attacking outlets in big moments. His goals in the title run-in weren't peripheral — they were decisive. Replacing that output, particularly the pressing intensity he brings, requires more than just finding another winger.
Celtic's attacking odds for next season's Champions League qualifying rounds and domestic title defence will look shakier if Maeda leaves without a like-for-like replacement coming in. Ipswich, meanwhile, get a player who presses relentlessly, scores in clutch moments, and arrives with genuine top-flight international pedigree from Japan's World Cup campaign.
Whether Celtic agree to lower the fee is the remaining question. But Maeda has made his position clear — he wants the Premier League, Ipswich want him, and he'd happily take a discount on himself to make it happen.
