Daizen Maeda Names Celtic Transfer Exit Wish Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• Daizen Maeda has admitted he does not know what would happen if a transfer offer arrives for him this summer
• The Japanese forward just completed one of his best seasons at Celtic, scoring 17 goals in 54 appearances across all competitions
• Maeda scored 14 goals in 36 Premiership appearances, starting 32 of Celtic’s 36 league matches
• Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill has admitted the club is likely to sell Maeda this summer unless he agrees a new deal
• Maeda had previously requested a transfer from Brendan Rodgers last summer but stayed after a Wolfsburg move collapsed
• The player is contracted until June 2027, making this summer Celtic’s last chance to secure a significant fee
• Maeda’s current market value is estimated at €13 million, up from the €1.4 million Celtic paid permanently for him
• Pete O’Rourke disclosed on the Transfer Insider podcast that Maeda expressed his desire to leave last year
• Wilfried Nancy, who previously managed Maeda, said the club wants to keep him but acknowledged he had opportunities to leave
• Martin O’Neill stated that if Maeda doesn’t want to stay, it would be “normal” for Celtic to sell him with a year left on his contract
• The 28-year-old scored in Celtic’s 3-1 Scottish Cup Final victory over Dunfermline, ending his season on a high note
• Brentford and Tottenham have reportedly shown interest in the pacey forward

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) May 30, 2026 –As reported by Pete O’Rourke on the Transfer Insider podcast, Daizen Maeda has given Celtic supporters another reason to watch this summer closely after admitting he does not know what would happen if an offer arrived for him. The Japanese forward, who has just completed one of the best seasons of his Celtic career, acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his position at the club.

“I had received an offer and told Celtic I wanted to take the next step,”

Maeda told Japanese media during international duty with Japan, as quoted by Brendan Rodgers.

“I had been talking to Celtic until the last day, but it didn’t work out. I’ve decided to stay.”

Why Is Celtic Likely to Sell Maeggia This Summer?

Martin O’Neill, Celtic’s interim manager who returned to the club in January 2026, has admitted that Celtic are likely to sell Daizen Maeda this summer unless the Japanese talisman agrees a new deal with the club. Speaking to The Herald, O’Neill explained the situation clearly.

“He’s got one more year,” Martin O’Neill explained, as reported by The Herald.

“That would be something (a new contract) the club, and he would have to be talking about. If he didn’t want to stay any longer, then that would be a choice for the football club to try and sell him with a year left to run. I just assume that would be the normal thing”.

O’Neill’s comments come after Maeda had actually requested a transfer from Brendan Rodgers last summer, according to expert Pete O’Rourke’s disclosure on the Transfer Insider podcast.

“(Maeda) had a conversation with Brendan Rodgers last year and expressed his desire to leave. He ultimately stayed with Celtic, and that clearly had an impact on his performance in the first half of the season”.

How Did Maeda Perform During the 2025-26 Season?

The statistics from Maeda’s 2025-26 campaign demonstrate why he has become such a valuable asset. Daizen Maeda has been a major Premiership presence for Celtic in 2025-2026, making 36 appearances with 32 starts and scoring 14 goals.

Across all competitions for Celtic this season, he has made 54 appearances and scored 17 goals, including 14 in the league.

His goals, relentless running and ability to play across the front line made him one of the first names on Martin O’Neill’s teamsheet during the title run-in. Maeda averages a 6.93 rating, with a season high of 9.26, and has started 32 of Celtic’s 36 Premiership matches.

However, the season was not without its challenges. From the start of the Scottish Premiership season until matchday 22, he managed to score only seven goals—a disappointing tally for a leading striker. The situation worsened as he went goalless and assist-less in his next eleven league appearances, causing Celtic’s championship aspirations to seem increasingly bleak.

But in a remarkable turnaround, Maeda regained his form at just the right moment. His revival began during the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren, where he charged down a clearance in the opening moments, breaking his dry spell. Following that, he emerged as a key player in Celtic’s pursuit of the title, netting goals in all five matches after the split.

He initially contributed to a 3-1 victory over Falkirk, where he scored twice and assisted Kieran Tierney. He then netted the first goal in a 2-1 win against Hibs at Easter Road. The season culminated with Maeda scoring in Celtic’s 3-1 Scottish Cup Final victory over Dunfermline, ending on a high note.

What Has Brendan Rodgers Said About Maeda’s Desire to Leave?

Brendan Rodgers has stated that he has been aware since late February of Daizen Maeda’s desire to depart from Celtic, as reported by BBC Sport. Nevertheless, the manager is confident that the Japanese forward will continue to exert maximum effort, even after failing to secure a transfer during the summer window.

“Last week, the 27-year-old expressed to Japanese media his wish to leave, although a potential transfer was impeded by Celtic before the deadline elapsed,”

Rodgers stated.

“He had several opportunities to move, which could have been beneficial for him and his family, but it didn’t come to fruition, so now it’s my responsibility to motivate him to push forward again.”

Rodgers further explained:

“Unfortunately, due to our circumstances and the timing, we were unable to facilitate that for him”.

Following the failed transfer, Rodgers plans to sit down with Daizen Maeda following his admission that he had hoped to depart Celtic during the club’s summer transfer turmoil.

What Do Experts Say About Celtic’s Decision to Sell?

Celtic appears poised to part ways with one of their most electrifying forwards this summer, as reports suggest that the Scottish Premiership champions will not obstruct Daizen Maeda’s desire to depart before the 2026/27 season.

Football expert Pete O’Rourke noted that Celtic realise this summer is likely their last chance to get a decent transfer fee for the Japanese international, especially since he is keen to try a new challenge in European football.

Selling Maeda now, while his value is high after his late-season form, saves Celtic from a much messier situation this time next year, according to analysis. Maeda joined Celtic permanently for €1.4m and is now valued at €13.00m, representing a significant return on investment.

Ross McCormack has stated that Celtic will be faced with hefty transfer offers for Daizen Maeda in the near-future but won’t be able to accept them initially.

“There’s got to be. If you’re getting £10m for Kyogo, and everyone seems to be singing off the same hymn sheet that Maeda’s a better striker… I think yes, there will be big offers. Will they take it? I’m not sure they can,”

McCormack replied.

What Has Wilfried Nancy Said About Keeping Maeda?

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is eager to retain Daizen Maeda and insists the forward is “really happy” at the Scottish champions after a potential summer departure was averted, as reported by BBC Sport. “He’s genuinely happy here,” Nancy remarked about Maeda.

“I understand he had the chance to leave previously, but right now he is with us and pleased to be here. Absolutely, we want to retain him, and he is aware of that. I hope he decides to stay”.

Wilfried Nancy revealed that keeping Daizen Maeda beyond the current campaign sits high on his festive wish list as he settles into life at Celtic.

“Yes, for sure, we’d like to keep him and he knows that. I hope that he’s going to stay. He’s really happy here. I knew that he had the opportunity to leave before but for the moment, he’s with us and he’s happy to be here,”

Nancy stated.

Maeda is contracted until June 2027, providing a degree of security, and while Nancy has confirmed reinforcements in the forward line are on the agenda, retaining last season’s player of the year at Celtic Park remains a clear priority.

Which Clubs Have Been Linked With Maeda?

Reports had suggested that talks were progressing well but since then, there hasn’t been any update regarding a new contract, according to Football Insider. Brentford and Tottenham have reportedly taken an interest in the pacey forward, with Maeda reportedly stalling on talks over a new deal as interest from the Premier League grows.

A report from OneFootball states that while Maeda is happy to remain at Celtic, talks have been paused as the player is willing to consider any offers to move on. Celtic have been keen to extend the 27-year-old’s stay in Glasgow, but the player’s willingness to consider offers has complicated negotiations.

In January 2026, reports suggested a potential transfer fee of approximately €16.5 million, while Celtic’s asking price during the summer of 2025 was reportedly £25 million.

What Happened with the Wolfsburg Transfer That Collapsed?

The Japan international was widely expected to leave Celtic Park for Wolfsburg last year and it’s understood that he even said goodbye to his team-mates before the proposed move collapsed at the final hurdle, as reported by The Celtic Star.

Daizen had agreed a deal with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg at the end of the summer transfer window last season, with the clubs already having agreed fees, but the transfer failed to materialise.

However, as Michael Nicholson failed to get his signing targets over the line for the centre forward position, Daizen, who has already emptied his locker at Lennoxtown and said his goodbyes to his teammates, was forced to stay at the club.

A transfer is, however, likely to take place when the 2026 summer window opens in June, with Celtic set to sanction a sale in order to avoid losing him on a Bosman deal next year.

Background: The Development of Daizen Maeda’s Transfer Situation

Daizen Maeda was born in Osaka on 20 October 1997 (age 28) and is a Japan international and Celtic’s number 38, used primarily from the left. He has also featured for Japan in Asian World Cup qualifying, scoring once in seven appearances. Maeda has scored 14 goals in 36 Premiership appearances this season and averages 259 minutes per goal.

His career statistics show consistent performance across multiple seasons: 2025/2026 (6.9 rating, 36 appearances), 2024/2025 (7.1 rating, 34 appearances), 2023/2024 (7.0 rating, 28 appearances), 2022/2023 (7.0 rating, 35 appearances), and 2021/2022 (7.0 rating, 16 appearances). His 2024-25 season was particularly impressive with 33 goals, though he has only found the back of the net seven times in the current season before his late resurgence.

Martin O’Neill is Celtic’s interim manager in 2026 after returning in January, and he has rejuvenated players like Daizen Maeda and Callum McGregor. O’Neill was named the Scottish Premiership Manager of the Month for April 2026. Maeda has scored once in five appearances since Wilfried Nancy took charge, and Nancy is thrilled to have Maeda’s versatility at his disposal, as he can be deployed both centrally and on the left flank.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Celtic Supporters and the Club

This development can affect Celtic supporters in several significant ways. All the indications are that Daizen Maeda will leave Celtic this summer, and if that is to be the case, signing off with a goal in a winning Scottish Cup Final provides a fond farewell for the Larssonesque Maeda. Celtic supporters will watch this summer closely to see whether the club secures a substantial transfer fee or risks losing Maeda on a Bosman deal next year.

For Celtic as a club, selling Maeda now while his value is high after his late-season form represents the smartest move they can make, according to analysis. Football expert Pete O’Rourke disclosed that Celtic realise this summer is likely their last chance to get a decent transfer fee for the Japanese international. The club will likely be required to sign a replacement for the 28-year-old this summer as a sale is set to be permitted.

The financial implications are considerable. Maeda joined Celtic permanently for €1.4m and is now valued at €13.00m, meaning Celtic could secure nearly ten times their original investment. However, Brendan Rodgers aims to build his team around the Japanese international, and Celtic can only sell Daizen Maeda for a “massive” fee this summer according to transfer analysis.