Daizen Maeda is heading to the Premier League. The 28-year-old Japanese striker is set to undergo a medical with Ipswich Town, with the two clubs having agreed a deal worth £10 million to bring his three-and-a-half-year stint at Celtic to a close.

The structure breaks down as £8 million upfront, with a further £2 million in performance-related add-ons. For a player with one year left on his contract, Celtic did reasonably well to extract that kind of fee.

What the numbers say

Maeda’s Celtic record is genuinely impressive. Seventy-nine goals in 212 appearances over 3.5 seasons puts him in the upper tier of attackers the Scottish Premiership has seen in recent memory.

The timing of this deal is notable. Maeda did not return to Celtic’s pre-season training camp following Japan’s World Cup campaign. With only one year remaining on his deal at Parkhead, Celtic faced a straightforward calculation: sell now at a reasonable price, or risk losing him for nothing in twelve months. The £10 million fee they’ve negotiated is a sensible outcome given that leverage.

Why Ipswich wanted him

Ipswich’s return to the top flight has required a significant overhaul of their squad, and attacking reinforcements have been a priority. His performances for Japan during the World Cup also elevated his profile considerably, giving Ipswich confidence that they are signing a player operating at international level rather than one coasting on domestic reputation.

The club finished their first season back in the top flight and are preparing for the 2026-27 campaign. A striker with Maeda’s work rate and finishing record addresses a genuine need rather than a luxury.

What this means for Celtic

The £10 million received will feed back into Brendan Rodgers’ transfer budget, giving the club resources to pursue a replacement before the window closes.

The medical is the final formal hurdle before Maeda officially becomes an Ipswich player.