World Cup star announces Celtic transfer intentions: 'My strongest desire'

13 Jul 2026 18:02 BST | 4 min read

Martin O'Neill, Celtic, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

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Celtic forward Daizen Maeda has reiterated that he is desperate to move to the Premier League.

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The Japan international is coming off a mixed World Cup campaign. Maeda was very impressive, but the Samurai Blue's tournament ended in disappointment when they fell at the first hurdle in the knockouts after surrendering a seemingly comfortable lead against Brazil.

This was in sharp contrast to his club season, which started terribly but ended with Celtic maintaining their stranglehold on the Premiership. The 28-year-old contributed 17 goals and 10 assists across all competitions in 2025/26, including a remarkable seven goals in five games after the split.

Current ETV

Daizen Maeda

F (CL)

Celtic

Daizen Maeda

F (CL)

Celtic

ETV Range

€10.3M - €12.6M

Yet had it been up to Maeda, he would not have spent last season at Parkhead. Last summer, the forward made no secret of his desire to leave the club and take the next step in his career amid rumoured interest from Brentford and Wolfsburg.

However, Celtic endured a difficult transfer window and were unable to source an adequate replacement, thus blocking the move and forcing Maeda to stay put. Now, with just a year left on his contract, a move looks inevitable.

Maeda confirms transfer intentions

Manager Martin O'Neill has confirmed as much. "I think there's some resignation in that aspect," the 74-year-old confessed to reporters when asked if Maeda will depart this summer.

"It isn't one of those where he's got a year left to run and we want to try and make something of it in the sense of getting money. It's not that at all. Personally speaking, I would love it if he just let his contract run through and played for the last year.

"Honestly, it would be super. I don't know whether that's in his mind or in his agent's mind. I'd love him to stay. I'm not sure that that's going to happen."

Maeda himself has now also reiterated that he is keen to pursue the opportunity to switch clubs and, ideally, move to the Premier League, even if just for a year. "I've always wanted to play in the Premier League ever since I went to Celtic, so I think this year might be my chance," he told PIVOT.

"My strongest desire is to play in the Premier League for at least a year. I haven't really thought about what comes after that. I think it's the best league, and I'm confident I can do make it there, so that's why I want to take on the challenge.

"There are certain strengths to being Japanese, and I believe that no matter which team I join, there will always be many who want me. I want to showcase those strengths of being Japanese."

However, he admitted that there is still some way to go before he can realise his dream. "It's really not decided yet," Maeda added. "It's about negotiations between Celtic and the other party. Until that's finalised, I still have one year left on my contract with Celtic.

"For me, it's simply that I want to play in the Premier League, and I don't care which team it is; I just want to play here. So, no matter which team it is, what I have to do won't change. I think that's the only thing that matters when it comes to fighting."

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