Key Points
- Former Celtic forward Daizen Maeda is set to make a return to Celtic Park ahead of the upcoming Glasgow Derby match.
- The Japan international transferred to Ipswich Town during the summer transfer window but left without an official farewell.
- Maeda specifically requested the opportunity from Celtic to return and express his gratitude to the supporters for their backing during his time in Scotland.
- He will address the home crowd directly on the pitch 10 minutes before kick-off.
- During his four-and-a-half-year tenure in Glasgow, Maeda collected 10 major trophies, highlighted by a domestic double of the Premiership and Scottish Cup in his final season.
Celtic (Glasgow Express) September 19, 2026 – Former Celtic forward Daizen Maeda will return to Celtic Park to bid farewell to supporters before the upcoming Glasgow Derby. The Japan international completed a transfer to Premier League side Ipswich Town during the summer transfer window but departed the club without having the opportunity to properly say goodbye to the fanbase.
Why is Daizen Maeda returning to Celtic Park?
Having left Scotland earlier this summer to join Ipswich Town, Maeda was unable to bid a formal farewell to the supporters who cheered him on throughout his successful stint in Glasgow. Because of this missing closure, he has actively asked Celtic for the chance to return and express his personal gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support during his four-and-a-half-year spell at the club.
When will Daizen Maeda address the supporters?
The club confirmed that the forward will step onto the pitch to address the supporters 10 minutes before kick-off at the highly anticipated Glasgow Derby. This special pre-match appearance will give the Japanese attacker a direct platform to thank the green and white faithful before they turn their attention to the fierce cross-city encounter.
What legacy does Daizen Maeda leave behind at Celtic?
Maeda departs Glasgow having established a stellar legacy, securing 10 major trophies during his four-and-a-half seasons with the club. His final campaign with the team proved particularly notable, as he played an instrumental role in helping Celtic secure a domestic double comprising the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup.
Background of the development
Daizen Maeda initially arrived in Scottish football when he joined Celtic on an initial loan deal from Yokohama F. Marinos in January 2022 before making the transfer permanent. Over the subsequent years, he evolved into an indispensable component of the squad under successive tactical setups, renowned for his relentless work rate, defensive pressing from the front, and crucial goalscoring contributions in both domestic competitions and European fixtures. His move to the English Premier League with Ipswich Town represented a significant career progression, but the compressed nature of modern summer football calendars frequently leaves high-profile players without a dedicated window to address their former supporters face-to-face. Arranging a pitch-side appearance ahead of a high-stakes fixture like the Glasgow Derby ensures maximum audience reach and underscores the mutual respect shared between the player and the club’s fanbase.
Prediction and impact on the audience
This pre-match acknowledgment is expected to generate a powerful emotional response within the stadium, significantly heightening the atmosphere ahead of the Glasgow Derby. For Celtic supporters, the brief ceremony provides a sense of closure and an opportunity to celebrate a modern club hero who contributed heavily to a decade of domestic dominance. For the current squad and coaching staff, witnessing the appreciation shown to a former teammate emphasizes the strong cultural ties within the club, potentially channeling positive energy onto the pitch. Meanwhile, for Daizen Maeda, the public farewell offers psychological closure as he fully immerses himself in his new chapter with Ipswich Town, reinforcing his connection to Scottish football and ensuring his legacy in Glasgow remains untarnished by an abrupt departure.
