Ipswich Town have signed Japanese forward, Daizen Maeda from Celtic for £10m.
Maeda’s move has ended a four-and-a-half year stint at Celtic in which he scored 79 goals and created 38 assists in 212 total appearances, during which he helped the Bhoys to 10 domestic titles – including a treble in the 2022-23 season;
- 5 x Scottish Premiership (2021-22, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026)
- 3 x Scottish Cup (2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2025-2026)
- 2 x Scottish League Cup (2022-2023, 2024-2025)
Celtic had expected the 28-year-old to depart the club this summer for a fresh challenge, and duly accepted a £10m bid from Ipswich which comprised of an initial fixed £8m fee plus £2m in add-ons.
In his first interview with Ipswich’s official website, Maeda spoke of his pride at making the move into the Premier League.
“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. 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.
“I am excited to learn more about the club and meet the supporters.”
Head Coach, Gary O’Neil added that he is “very pleased” to sign Maeda knowing that he has strived towards achieving the right to play for a Premier League club on merit.
“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.
“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.
“He will be a valuable member of the squad and we look forward to him joining up with the group.”
Maeda began his senior career at Matsumoto Yamaga in Japan where he scored 10 goals in 57 appearances across three seasons between 2016-19, amidst a loan spell at Mito Hollyhock in 2017 which saw him net 13 goals in 36 appearances.
He also helped Matsumoto Yamaga achieve promotion to the J League in 2018 as J2 League champions.
Maeda subsequently joined Portugal’s Maritimo on loan in summer 2019 but only managed four goals in 24 appearances, before he spent 2020-21 season back in Japan at Yokohama F. Marinos where he scored three goals in 30 appearances.
Yokohama F. Marinos however signed him permanently at the end of his loan spell and he went on to enjoy a breakthrough season in 2021 with 23 goals in 40 appearances, which saw him finish as the J League’s joint-top goalscorer that season alongside Leandro Damiao of Kawasaki Frontale.
Celtic subsequently signed him initially on loan on New Year’s Eve 2021 for the remainder of the 2021-22 season in which he he delivered eight goals in 22 appearances.
Maeda subsequently went on to become an integral part of the Bhoys’ success in recent seasons, as the 2024-25 season saw him deliver 33 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions in his strongest season to date at club level.
Maeda represents Japan at international level in which he has scored five goals in 30 senior international caps, and was part of the Japan squads which advanced from the Group Stages in 2022 and 2-26 FIFA World Cup, only to fall at the first knockout hurdle in both editions.