Daizen Maeda’s Celtic departure looks set to be confirmed in the next 24 hours, bringing an end to a remarkable four-and-a-half years in Glasgow.
The Japan international travelled to London on Thursday to undergo a medical ahead of his move to Ipswich Town. RecordSport now report that the medical has been completed and the transfer is entering its final stages.
The deal is expected to see Celtic receive £8 million up front, with a further £2 million in add-ons.
His exit comes after an extended summer break following Japan’s run to the World Cup Round of 32. Maeda played a key role during the tournament, scoring against Sweden in the group stage, where he came up against Celtic teammate Benjamin Nygren.
Replacing Maeda will not be straightforward.
🚨🍀 Daizen Maeda will be officially announced as an Ipswich Town player in the next 24 hours #ITFC
The #CelticFC star has completed his medical & will now formalise his move for an initial £8m plus £2m in add-ons @Record_Sport
Maeda won 10 trophies at Celtic scoring 79 goals. https://t.co/EdT7JTf1tB pic.twitter.com/2iMEI5cBVb
— Ryan McDonald (@rmcd93) July 24, 2026
Numbers only tell part of the story, but 79 goals and 38 assists across 212 appearances underline just how productive he was. Beyond that, there was the relentless pressing, the willingness to chase lost causes and the consistency that made him one of the first names on the teamsheet regardless of the manager.
Supporters have no shortage of moments to remember.
His contribution on the final day against Hearts helped make sure the league title stayed at Celtic Park when the pressure was at its highest. Before that came an unforgettable overhead kick against Rangers, a goal that will be replayed for years whenever his time at Celtic is discussed.
Those moments mattered because Maeda so often delivered when the stakes were highest. He built a reputation as a player who embraced the biggest occasions rather than shrinking from them.
Players leave Celtic every season, but some departures are harder to accept than others. Maeda’s will sting.
His work rate became the standard others were measured against. His attitude rarely wavered, whether Celtic were chasing a game or comfortably ahead. Younger players could do far worse than follow the example he set every day.
There is no doubt he leaves a significant gap in Martin O’Neill’s squad. Finding another forward capable of matching Maeda’s intensity, reliability and knack for producing in the biggest moments will be one of the club’s biggest challenges heading into the new campaign.
For Celtic supporters, this one will take a while to get over.
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