Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has expressed his desire to keep Daizen Maeda, a 28-year-old Japanese winger, who was close to a transfer to Wolfsburg last summer and has been linked with a potential move away this month. O'Neill admitted that he does not know what the outcome will be, explaining that he had only just arrived and planned to speak with Maeda or his agent to understand his thoughts. The manager acknowledged that the player felt some disappointment when the move to the German club did not happen last summer, but noted that Maeda has since become active again. O’Neill stated that he wants the player to remain at the club, describing it as important.
Maeda, who joined Celtic in July 2022 and is under contract until June 2027, has scored 6 goals and provided 5 assists in 18 Scottish Premiership appearances this season. He has recently been linked with clubs including Trabzonspor and Everton. In January 2026, reports suggested a potential transfer fee of approximately €16.5 million, while Celtic's asking price during the summer of 2025 was reportedly £25 million. The player, who has 26 caps for Japan, has a current market value of €14.00m, according to Transfermarkt.
