Interim Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has indicated that forward Daizen Maeda is likely to be sold during the summer transfer window after failing to commit his future to the club. The 28-year-old Japan international is entering the final year of a contract that expires in 2027, and O'Neill has confirmed the striker previously rejected an extension following a failed move to the Bundesliga. According to reports in the Daily Record and the Herald Scotland, Celtic intend to monetise the asset rather than risk losing him for a reduced fee next January.
Contract impasse and the Wolfsburg collapse
Maeda’s current situation stems from a breakdown in relations last August when a proposed move to VfL Wolfsburg collapsed. Speaking to The Celtic Way, O’Neill revealed that Maeda stayed at Parkhead only because the club failed to secure a replacement. "I do know that there were talks and there was a contract in front of him, which he didn't sign at the time," O'Neill explained. "I think obviously he became a bit despondent because it was a chance for him to play in the Bundesliga." The forward had reportedly already prepared for his departure before the deal was blocked. With no breakthrough in fresh negotiations, O'Neill told the Herald that selling the player with 12 months remaining on his deal would be the "normal thing" for the club to do.
Squad bloat and declining productivity
The decision to sanction Maeda's exit is part of a wider restructuring as Celtic manage a "top-heavy" squad. While Maeda was the Premiership's standout performer in 2024/25, scoring 33 goals and winning the Player of the Year award, his form has regressed significantly this term. He has managed just 11 goals across all competitions, a decline that coincided with Celtic's valuation of the player dropping from a peak of £25 million. O'Neill's side is currently locked in a tight title race with Hearts, and the manager expects a significant clear-out to accommodate returning loanees and high-earning fringe players. Selling Maeda alongside other high-value assets like Arne Engels is seen as a financial necessity to fund the required rebuild under the next permanent management team.
Maeda, who recently found form with a brace against Falkirk, will now finish the season under scrutiny as potential suitors monitor his availability ahead of the June window.