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Daizen Maeda Confirms Celtic Blocked Summer Exit Amid Scottish Premiership Pressure

Maeda’s Transfer Desire Halted

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda has admitted he wanted to leave the club during the summer transfer window, only for Parkhead officials to block the move. The Japanese international, named Scottish Premiership Player of the Year last season, revealed he had agreed personal terms with another club but was told by Celtic that he could not depart due to squad limitations.

“I received an offer,” Maeda said. “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.”

The striker, who joined in January 2022 and has already scored 63 goals for the Glasgow giants, confessed his disappointment at the situation while on international duty with Japan. He explained that his arrival to the national squad was delayed because he was pushing for a resolution until the final day of the window.

Photo: IMAGO

Offers and Unanswered Questions

Although linked with Brentford, Maeda refused to reveal whether it was indeed a Premier League side who tabled the offer. “Personally, I had agreed, so I wanted to take on the challenge,” he admitted. “The national team also delayed my joining, and I really asked Celtic until the last day, but it didn’t happen.”

At 27, Maeda is entering what many would consider the peak years of his career. His pace, work rate and sharp finishing have made him a standout in the Scottish Premiership, but his comments reflect a desire to test himself in another environment. That opportunity, however, will now have to wait.

Celtic’s Dilemma in Attacking Depth

The timing of Maeda’s potential departure would have compounded existing issues at Celtic. Brendan Rodgers has already lost Kyogo Furuhashi, Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn this year, departures that have left fans questioning the strength of the squad.

The sale of Maeda, a player who embodies Rodgers’ pressing and intensity, would have placed further pressure on a board already under scrutiny for failing to adequately reinforce the attack. Keeping him, at least until January, provides some stability in a period where Celtic’s dominance in the Scottish Premiership cannot be taken for granted.

Photo: IMAGO

Maeda Commits to Celtic for Now

Despite his disappointment, Maeda has now pledged to refocus his energies on Celtic’s campaign. “I’ve decided to stay at Celtic, so I want to do my best as a member of the team,” he confirmed.

For the supporters, those words will provide relief, even if the situation leaves lingering uncertainty about the long-term future of one of their most important players. The expectation is that interest will resurface in January, and Celtic’s board may be faced with another difficult decision.

Until then, Maeda remains central to their hopes of retaining the Scottish Premiership title and delivering the kind of European performances that have so far eluded them. His goals, industry and relentless energy will once again be critical, whether or not his personal ambitions lie elsewhere.