Keeping Daizen Maeda but happy to bring in Taisei Miyashiro

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The Celtic Star

·12 August 2025

Keeping Daizen Maeda but happy to bring in Taisei Miyashiro

Daizen Maeda rumours are hopefully nonsense, but Taisei Miyashiro is a player we should definitely be looking at, as recommended on The Celtic Star at the beginning of January…

Daizen Maeda of Celtic during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI-IMAGO

An interesting transfer rumour has been doing the rounds suggesting that Daizen Maeda will be leaving Celtic, with his fellow countryman Taisei Miyashiro lined up as his replacement.

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Taisei Miyashiro #9 of Japan in action during the EAFF E-1 Men’s Football Championship match between Japan and Hong Kong at Yongin Mireu Stadium on July 08, 2025 in Yongin, South Korea. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)

Firstly, the rumour regarding Daizen is in my view nothing but complete nonsense, and most likely some mischief making in the Scottish mainstream to deflect from our positive start to the campaign and the latest club from Ibrox enduing another woeful one. That said I wouldn’t mind bringing in Miyashiro to bolster our attacking options which at the moment can only be described as weak. in fact worse than that and it’s no coincidence that our front three have yet to score this season.

Taisei Miyashiro #9 of Japan celebrates winning during the EAFF E-1 Men’s Football Championship match between Japan and China at Yongin Mireu Stadium on July 12, 2025 in Yongin, South Korea. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)

Miyashiro who The Celtic Star profiled and recommended at the start of the year is an impressive front man who plays for Kyogo’s old side Vissel Kobe, boasting a terrific strike record of nine goals and two assists in 21 J league appearances this season.

He’s a mobile striker with great versatility in the forward position, but more importantly he comes to life in the opposition penalty box, and tucks away chances expertly when presented, something we badly lack at this moment.

He’s also out of contract in five months so it wouldn’t require a hefty fee to acquire his signature. It’s a deal we It’s a deal we should be looking to explore in more detail ad hopefully that’s exactly what the club are currently doing (no laughing at the back).

GWANGJU, SOUTH Miyashiro Taisei of Vissel Kobe (L) controls the ball against Park Taejun of Gwangju (R) during the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 second leg match between Gwangju and Vissel Kobe at Gwangju World Cup Stadium on March 12, 2025 in Gwangju, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Here’s Dubai Bhoy’s article from 4 January 2025…

Vissel Kobe forward Taisei Miyashiro a tantalising option for Celtic

Miyashiro Taisei of Vissel Kobe (L) during the AFC Champions League Elite East Region match between Vissel Kobe and Shandong Taishan at Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium on October 02, 2024 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)

Kyogo’s old club Vissel Kobe could have another gem waiting for Celtic. Forward Taisei Miyashiro is a tantalising option for Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers…

Taisei Miyashiro of Vissel Kobe during the AFC Champions League Elite East Region match between Vissel Kobe and Shandong Taishan at Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium on October 02, 2024 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)

Celtic’s disappointing Derby defeat in the first match of 2025 has intensified calls for reinforcements as the team faces a critical second half of the season. With a must-win Champions League home clash against Young Boys on Wednesday 22 January, strengthening the squad is no longer optional—it’s looking essential.

Adding intrigue to this narrative, Celtic’s final Champions League fixture will be against Aston Villa, a team reportedly eyeing Vissel Kobe winger Taisei Miyashiro. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is rumoured to be targeting the J-League star to bolster his attacking lineup. This raises the question: should Celtic look to the Japanese market once more, particularly at a player like the highly regarded Miyashiro?

Celtic’s Track Record with Japanese Players

Kyogo, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate with the Premier Sports Cup after Celtic’s victory over theRangers on 15 December 2024 at Hampden Park. Photo Kenny Ramsay

Under former manager Ange Postecoglou, Celtic made six Japanese signings, with mixed results. While three proved to be impactful, the jury is still out on Tomoki Iwata’s overall contribution during his time at the club before his summer 2024 move to Birmingham City. Yet, the undeniable success story is Kyogo Furuhashi, who arrived from none other than Vissel Kobe. Kyogo has been nothing short of prolific, solidifying his reputation as one of Celtic’s finest acquisitions in recent years.

Interestingly, Vissel Kobe, fresh off securing back-to-back J-League titles, has once again produced a standout player in Taisei Miyashiro. The 23-year-old winger boasts an impressive record, with 11 goals in the J-League and four more in six AFC Champions League matches. So should Celtic return to this proven source for talent and make a move for Miyashiro?

Taisei Miyashiro then of Kawasaki Frontale in action during the AFC Champions League Group I match between Kawasaki Frontale and Johor Darul Ta’zim at Todoroki Stadium on November 28, 2023 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

Lessons from Derby defeat

Celtic’s recent Glasgow Derby loss highlighted glaring issues, particularly in squad depth and attacking options. Fans were left frustrated by the lack of impact from key players, as well as the absence of effective alternatives on the bench. Neither Yang nor Luis Palma made an appearance from the substitutes’ bench—underscoring a pressing need for reinforcements in wide positions, with James Forrest currently sidelined for six weeks.

Given the underwhelming contributions of some of these fringe wingers, a deeper dive into the Far East market could provide Celtic with the fresh talent they desperately need. The Japanese league, in particular, has proven to be fertile ground for skilful and hardworking players who adapt well to European football.

Time for Action

With crucial fixtures looming and the transfer window still open, Celtic has a golden opportunity to explore the Japanese market once more. Players like Taisei Miyashiro, with their proven track record and ability to perform on big stages, could offer Celtic the firepower and creativity they currently lack.

The question now is whether the club will take this chance to strengthen the squad—or risk falling short in our domestic and European ambitions?

Written by Dubai Bhoy and published on The Celtic Star on 4 January 2025.

THE HANGOVER…So better late than never …

Kasper Schmeichel in control as Leighton Clarkson of Aberdeen stretches for the ball during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI