Japan forward Daizen Maeda leaves Celtic for Ipswich Town in £10 million deal as promoted club builds for Premier League return
The 28-year-old World Cup scorer has signed a three-year contract at Portman Road, becoming Ipswich's first Japanese player.
Ipswich Town have completed the signing of Japanese international Daizen Maeda from Celtic, the promoted Premier League club announced on Saturday. The 28-year-old forward moves for a fee reported by British media at around £10 million (roughly €9 million plus a further €2 million in potential bonuses) and has put pen to paper on a three-year deal that will keep him at Portman Road until the summer of 2029.
The player Ipswich are getting
Maeda arrives in Suffolk after four-and-a-half trophy-laden years in Glasgow. Over 212 appearances for Celtic, he scored 79 goals and provided 37 assists, winning five Scottish Premiership titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups. His form at the end of last season was particularly eye-catching: he netted nine times in Celtic's last seven matches, including a spectacular overhead kick in a 3-1 derby victory and the league-clinching goal on the final day against Hearts. Those exploits, combined with a goal for Japan in a 1-1 World Cup group-stage draw with Sweden, sharpened Ipswich's interest.
I am very proud to sign for Ipswich Town. I have always dreamed of playing in the Premier League and I am very happy I can realise that dream with this club.
Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil described Maeda as a player with impressive physical attributes who has proven his ability to score and create. The forward's intense pressing style, which made him a fan favourite at Parkhead, is a quality O'Neil wants to integrate into a side preparing for its first Premier League campaign after one season in the Championship.
Farewell to Celtic
Maeda took to social media after the move was confirmed, calling his time at Celtic "the most special chapter" of his career and life. He thanked supporters for standing by him through highs and lows and said Glasgow would forever be a second home to his family. The message also contained a personal note about his son.
My son loves Glasgow so much that he already says he wants to wear the Celtic shirt and play at Celtic Park one day. I truly hope that dream comes true, and I hope our family will be back here again someday.
Celtic released their own statement recognising his contribution, highlighting his relentless energy and vital goals, and wished him well.
Celtic's record replacement
Celtic wasted no time reinvesting the Maeda fee. Multiple reports state the club has agreed a club-record deal worth in excess of £11 million plus add-ons to sign Danish striker Kasper Hogh from Bodo/Glimt. The 25-year-old, who had been Celtic's top centre-forward target this summer, is expected to sign a four-year contract. The move follows the earlier £6 million purchase of Colombian forward Camilo Duran from Qarabag.
Ipswich's summer rebuild
The Maeda deal is Ipswich's fifth signing of the close season and follows the arrival of Morocco defender Issa Diop from Fulham earlier in the week. Ipswich begin their 2026-27 Premier League campaign at home to Sunderland on August 22, and O'Neil spoke warmly about the club's latest addition.
Playing in the Premier League is something I know he has been working towards throughout his career and we are proud he has made the decision to do that now at Ipswich Town.
Maeda, capped 30 times by Japan, scored in the recent North American World Cup before his country was eliminated by Brazil in the round of 32. His move means he becomes Ipswich's first Japanese player in the club's history.
