Report: Daizen Maeda will cost Celtic around £1.6m less than Kyogo Furuhashi

By David Walton

November 30, 2021

In a class update, the Daily Record is reporting that Daizen Maeda will cost Celtic around only £3m in January to sign him from Yokohama Marinos.

Celtic were first linked with the player back in late October by The Times. However, that speculation simply hasn’t gone away since then as Maeda has continued to shine in Japan with Marinos.

Currently the top scorer in the J-League after Kyogo’s move to Parkhead in the summer, Maeda is known for his frightening pace and power. Attributes that should see him take to Scotland well.

And in a boost for Celtic’s transfer plans, the player could cost as much as £1.6m less than Furuhashi according to the Record. Kyogo signed for the club in what was a £4.6m blockbuster summer deal for the Hoops [Scottish Sun].

It wouldn’t take as much to lure Maeda at Celtic Park. Granted, it’s important not to expect any movement on this until the J-League campaign is over.

Maeda has scored 22 goals in 39 games this season for Yokohama, and has recently burst into the reckoning with Japan [Transfermarkt].

Celtic could nab Daizen Maeda for bargain price

Considering everything we know about Maeda, this sounds like it would be an absolute bargain.

To get a player of his raw quality in for £3m would be a huge boost for the club. When you look at what he would bring to the forward line, it’s an absolutely invaluable step forward in terms of quality.

It’s time to get real, Albian Ajeti simply doesn’t offer enough for Celtic. Giorgos Giakoumakis, meanwhile, will be given time to settle but has still to show he’ll make a big impact this season.

Celtic plucked the J-League in the summer to nab Furuhashi. However, Maeda is a different kind of centre-forward and will come with his own unique attributes. And it’s fair to say he has the physical and athletic make-up to be a huge success over here.

Of course, despite it being considerably less than Kyogo’s valuation, £3m is still a relatively steep fee for a club of Celtic’s size. It remains to be seen just how much we want the deal to be done. Considering it may even take a £3m+ figure, Celtic will be wary of going too sky-high in any negotiations.

A big January transfer window awaits, and Maeda’s arrival would certainly increase the excitement levels at Celtic Park.

In other news, Report: 2021 Olympian has decided he wants to join Celtic; could make Glasgow derby debut