Deal Nears Completion
Ipswich Town are on the brink of landing Celtic forward Daizen Maeda, and this one is moving fast. A £10m package has been agreed in principle, with roughly £8m guaranteed and the rest arriving through add-ons. Gary O’Neil clearly wants firepower ready before the Premier League kicks back off.
A medical is reportedly set for the next 24 hours. If all goes smoothly, Maeda could complete his move within days. Talks only intensified over the past week, yet the pace suggests both clubs are eager to get this done quickly.
For Maeda, this represents a long stated dream finally coming true. The 28-year-old has never hidden his ambition to test himself in England’s top flight. He arrived at Celtic Park back in January 2022 and quickly became a fixture under Ange Postecoglou, then Brendan Rodgers. Five successive league titles followed, along with silverware across multiple competitions.
Now, though, his time in Glasgow appears to be ending. Entering the final year of his contract, Maeda gave Celtic little reason to expect an extension. That situation made a sale this summer almost inevitable, and Ipswich moved decisively once talks opened.
Why Ipswich Made Their Move
Newly promoted and rebuilding under a new manager, Ipswich needed proven quality up front. O’Neil replaced Kieran McKenna this summer, inheriting a squad short on top flight experience. Maeda offers pace, intensity, and a track record of scoring against elite opposition, exactly what survival campaigns tend to require.
His timing also suits Ipswich perfectly. Maeda extended his summer break through Japan’s World Cup campaign, so he arrives fresh off international football rather than a gruelling preseason grind. Once terms are finalised, he’ll link up with the squad following their training camp in Spain.
Celtic, meanwhile, view £10m as fair business for a player entering his contract’s final months. Fans largely agree the fee represents solid value given his contribution to the club’s recent dominance.
Follow every twist of this transfer window on the KCPredict blog. More on the deal’s progress is available via Sky Sports News.