Ipswich Town sign Japan forward Daizen Maeda from Celtic in £10m deal

Image caption: Maeda scored for Japan in a 1-1 draw against Sweden at the 2026 World Cup

By Mandeep Sanghera BBC Sport journalist

Ipswich Town have signed Japan forward Daizen Maeda from Celtic on a three-year contract.

The 28-year-old has joined the Premier League side in a reported £10m deal, external. He was part of Japan's squad at the 2026 World Cup and helped them reach the last 32 before they were knocked out by Brazil.

Maeda scored 79 goals in 212 appearances at Celtic, where he won:

• Five league titles
• Three Scottish Cups
• Two League Cups

"I have always dreamed of playing in the Premier League and I am very happy I can realise that dream with this club," Maeda told Ipswich's website, external.

"I have loved all of the conversations with the club and they have made me feel very welcome.

"My aim will always be to battle hard, score goals, and provide assists for my team - I will always run and give everything that I have."

Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil, who took over at Portman Road in the summer following the departure of Kieran McKenna, believes Maeda will be "a valuable member" of his squad.

Maeda joins the Tractor Boys following their promotion back into the top flight after they finished second in the Championship under McKenna last season.

"He works extremely hard and has impressive physical attributes, while also proving over a number of years playing in Scotland that he has the ability to score goals and create for his team," said O'Neil.

Ipswich have added Maeda to the arrivals of:

• Defender Issa Diop
• Winger Abdul Fatawu
• Striker Emersonn
• Goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen

In addition, defender Cedric Kipre and forward Chuba Akpom signed on a permanent basis following successful loans last season.

In a social media post, external to the "Celtic family", Maeda said "the last four and a half years at Celtic have been the most special chapter of my career and my life".

He added: "It has been an incredible honour to wear this badge, to play for this amazing club, and to share so many unforgettable moments with my teammates, the staff, and the best supporters in the world.

"Thank you for standing by me through every high and low."

• Ipswich sign Diop from Fulham

Maeda Leaves Big Gap at Celtic After Massive Impact

By Charlotte Cohen BBC Sport Scotland

When Maeda joined Celtic as a relatively unknown J-League attacker in 2022, no one could have imagined the kind of success he would go on to have at the club.

Maeda arrived in the early days of the Ange Postecoglou era, making the switch from Yokohama F. Marinos to Glasgow initially on loan in late December 2022 before completing a permanent switch in the following summer.

His pace and energy have helped Celtic on numerous occasions, but the 2025-26 campaign is what he will be most fondly remembered for.

After failing to replace Kyogo Furuhashi up front, Celtic relied on Maeda to play through the middle for almost the entirety of last season.

Having initially struggled for form, he turned things around when it mattered most. Maeda was on a barren run of just one goal in 18 games and Celtic were second in the table, trailing league leaders Hearts.

What followed was transformational. Maeda scored seven goals in five Premiership matches, two of which were game winners.

He scored the unforgettable second goal in the final-day decider at home to Hearts when, with the score level at 1-1, Maeda fired beyond Alexander Schwolow on 87 minutes to send Celtic Park wild.

In his final game for Celtic, Maeda opened the scoring in a comfortable Scottish Cup final win over Dunfermline Athletic.

While many fans will be sad to see him go, they probably feel it is a deserved move for a player that has contributed so much.

"His relentless energy and vital goals were an essential part of the team over the past four-and-a-half years, and he was a firm favourite with Celtic fans," said a Celtic statement, external.

"As he heads on to pastures new at Ipswich Town, everyone at Celtic thanks Daizen for his contribution to the club."