Daizen Maeda confirms transfer talks as Celtic striker pushes for lower fee

Daizen Maeda has confirmed that Celtic need to drop their asking price if he is to leave the club before the summer transfer window closes. The Japan international was desperate to move on last summer, but a proposed switch to Wolfsburg collapsed following Adam Idah’s sale to Swansea City, leaving the forward stuck at Parkhead for the entire 2025-26 campaign. Maeda, who fired home 14 Scottish Premiership goals in 36 appearances last season to help Celtic lift the title, is again pushing for an exit. Newly-promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town have emerged as serious contenders and have already opened dialogue with the Glasgow club. Talks between Celtic and Ipswich have been confirmed, and negotiations are expected to ramp up in the coming days. The 28-year-old has just one year remaining on his contract, and his Estimated Transfer Value currently sits at €11.5 million. When asked by Japanese TV programme PUSH Sports whether his World Cup performances – he scored once in three appearances – would boost his value, Maeda admitted: “I wish it would go down even more. If it goes down, it will be easier for me to transfer teams. So I don't want it to go up.” He added: “Playing in the Premier League has been my dream for a long time, so I think I have to work even harder to get there. “I believe that the next World Cup is at the end of the road if I cherish each and every day of playing soccer, so first and foremost, I want to cherish each and every day in front of me.”