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FEATURE
- 22 minutes ago
Celtic bombshell as key star reveals: I wanted to LEAVE this summer!
Tom Weber
- Updated: 5 Sept 2025 15:59 BST
- 4 min read
News
Celtic forward Daizen Maeda has revealed that he requested to leave the Parkhead club this summer, only to have a presumed move to Brentford blocked.
The Japan international has been a brilliant servant to the Hoops since joining from Yokohama F. Marinos in January 2022, scoring 63 goals and providing 30 assists in 165 games.
Naturally, with numbers like that, suitors are quick to emerge when the transfer window opens, as was indeed the case in the summer, when Premier League outfit Brentford reportedly made contact to sign the 27-year-old.
Current ETV
Daizen Maeda
F (CL)
Celtic
Daizen Maeda
F (CL)
Celtic
ETV Range
€12.2M - €14.9M
It was a damaging window for Celtic, and losing the forward would have been another massive blow after selling Nicolas Kuhn to Como. However, Maeda has now revealed that he was very keen on the move and had even asked Celtic to be allowed to leave.
Ultimately, the club decided to deny his request as they failed to find an adequate replacement, which was the story of their summer. Adam Idah, for example, was only replaced with Kelechi Iheanacho once the window had closed, with the Nigerian available on a free.
Maeda: I wanted to leave Celtic
“I received an offer,” Maeda explained, without revealing the club that had wanted to sign him. “I had been telling the club that I wanted to take the next step, but Celtic hadn’t been able to strengthen their squad properly, so in the end, they told me they couldn’t let me go.
“Personally, I had agreed [to the move], so I wanted to take on the challenge. The national team also delayed my joining, and I really asked Celtic until the last day, but it didn’t happen. I’ve decided to stay at Celtic, so I want to do my best as a member of the team.
Maeda is now set to stay put at Celtic Park at least until January. The Hoops will certainly need him, having come under intense scrutiny following their embarrassing Champions League exit to Kairat Almaty.
Celtic only mustered a 0-0 draw with an out-of-sorts Rangers side ahead of the international break, which allowed Hearts to go level on points with them at the summit of the Premiership.
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