Celtic Blocks Daizen Maeda Transfer Exit Amid Replacement Struggles

Daizen Maeda, Celtic's star forward, revealed during international duty with Japan that he wanted to leave the club this summer to take the next step in his career but was blocked by Celtic, who cited their inability to secure a replacement as the reason. Despite receiving an official transfer offer and agreeing on personal terms with another club, Maeda's move did not materialize, leading to his delayed arrival for Japan's national team. He expressed frustration that Celtic had not strengthened their squad adequately, which contributed to the club's decision to retain him. Maeda, who scored 33 goals last season and won individual awards, has vowed to give his all for Celtic despite the failed transfer. Manager Brendan Rodgers acknowledged the club's shortcomings in the transfer window, emphasizing the need to strengthen the squad to avoid stagnation after promising performances in recent years. Maeda's potential exit had drawn interest from Premier League and European clubs, but with two years left on his contract, he remains at Celtic for now.