Ipswich Town agree €12m deal for Celtic star Daizen Maeda as Premier League dream realized

Daizen Maeda is finally getting his Premier League move. Celtic have accepted a bid worth approximately €12 million from newly promoted Ipswich Town for the Japanese international, bringing an end to a saga that stretched across two transfer windows. Maeda, 28, made no secret of his desire to leave Parkhead last summer, but Celtic refused to sanction his departure after failing to secure a replacement. Now, with only one year remaining on his contract and the player publicly stating his ambition to test himself in England, the Hoops have relented. The winger finished the Scottish Premiership season in explosive form, netting seven goals in five appearances after the split as Celtic edged out Hearts to claim the title. He carried that momentum into the World Cup, scoring for Japan before they fell to Brazil in the Round of 16. According to sources, Ipswich moved quickly over the past 24 hours and reached an agreement with Celtic. The bulk of the €12m fee is due upfront, with a smaller portion tied to performance-related bonuses. Celtic boss Martin O'Neill acknowledged recently that the club had resigned themselves to losing Maeda after the player spoke openly about his ambitions during interviews in Japan. The departure leaves a significant gap in O'Neill's attack, but the club has been preparing for this scenario. Reports indicate Celtic have already made progress on a replacement, with a second bid submitted for Real Oviedo winger Haissem Hassan after an initial offer was rejected. The Glasgow side also completed the signing of Camilo Duran from Qarabag for €5.5m earlier this summer, while moves for Kelechi Iheanacho and Lorent Tolaj fell through.