Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria
San Marino

Celtic

sportsmole.co.uk, 6 July 2023, 17:20
Celtic have announced that Japanese forward Daizen Maeda has signed a new four-year contract with the club.

The 25-year-old initially joined the Hoops on loan in January 2022 before making his move permanent last summer, and he has since established himself as a first-team regular for the Scottish giants.

Maeda has scored 19 goals and provided 12 assists in 79 appearances for Celtic across all tournaments, including 11 goals and seven assists in 49 games to help the club win a Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup treble last season.

The Japan international follows in the footsteps of club and international teammate Kyogo Furuhashi is signing a new deal with Celtic, with both players committing their futures to the club until the summer of 2027.

Speaking to Celtic's official website about his new deal, Maeda said: "It is a very happy moment for me and my family. Since we moved from Japan, everyone at the club and, of course, the supporters have been amazing and we are enjoying our life in Scotland.

"Celtic is a special club so I'm very pleased to extend my stay here. When I signed I said that my ultimate goal was to win the league and we have done so, twice.

"Becoming a treble winner last season has been one of the highlights of my career but we must now prepare for next season. Our aim will remain the same, to work hard together with the manager to bring success to the club and our supporters.

"We have three trophies to defend, and we also have Champions League football, so I am excited to get started."

Manager Brendan Rodgers added: "Daizen has many qualities that I like in a player - high intensity, attack-minded and his work rate on and off the ball is exceptional.

"He has played a key role in the team since he arrived, helping to secure yet another Treble for the club so I am delighted we have been able to secure a new deal with him.

"Daizen's attributes make him a really exciting player and I am looking forward to working with him."

While both Maeda and Furuhashi have penned fresh terms at Parkhead, another star attacker in the form of Jota has left the club to join Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a £25m deal.

Aaron Mooy has also departed after announcing his retirement from football, while two fresh faces in Odin Thiago Holm and Marco Tilio have joined the club on permanent deals.

Celtic are preparing for a pre-season tour of Japan before they begin their defence of the Scottish Premiership title away against Ross County on August 5.

Top News

28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly among a number of Premier League clubs who are interested in Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly reached a decision over how to handle the situation with Timo Werner. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is reportedly attracting interest from another Premier League club. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United are reportedly leaning towards making a big-money approach for a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A Barcelona defender is reportedly scheduled to undergo a medical at Crystal Palace this week ahead of completing a permanent transfer to Selhurst Park. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly identified a potential new number one goalkeeper amid suggestions that Ederson could seek pastures new this summer. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement over the length of a contract with Leicester City head coach Enzo Maresca. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has confirmed that he has made a decision over his future at Real Madrid, but is waiting for the right moment to make a public announcement. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has opened up on what has been "the most frustrating season" and has issued an injury update ahead of England's Euro 2024 campaign this summer. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco has revealed that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois does not feature in his Euro 2024 squad because he is "not ready". 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atalanta BC have reportedly identified a recently-relegated Championship player as their primary target for the start of the summer transfer window. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco has selected his 25-player preliminary squad for Euro 2024. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly prepared to make an "enormous loss" on one of their most experienced players in the summer transfer window. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City have reportedly identified a potential successor for Chelsea-bound Enzo Maresca. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly made contact with the representatives of a manager who is available to replace Erik ten Hag if deemed necessary. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The season is over and while the transfer window doesn't technically open until June 14, clubs across the UK and Europe are free to get deals in place ahead of next season. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk San Lorenzo can qualify for the knockout stage of the 2024 Copa Libertadores by avoiding defeat on Thursday against Palmeiras at Allianz Parque. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Thursday will be a must-win game for Independiente del Valle and Liverpool, who face each other on matchday six in the 2024 Copa Libertadores from Estadio Banco Guayaquil in Ecuador. 28 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Junior vs. Botafogo (Tuesday, 11.00pm) Neck-and-neck in the Copa Libertadores Group D standings, Atletico Junior and Botafogo vie for first place in Tuesday's finale in Barranquilla. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has confirmed his commitment to captain the club in Arne Slot's first season at Anfield. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has confirmed his commitment to captain the club in Arne Slot's first season at Anfield. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sao Paulo and Talleres close out their respective Copa Libertadores group-stage campaigns with a meeting at Estadio Do Morumbi on Thursday. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly earmarked Atalanta BC midfielder Ederson as a potential summer transfer target. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After a month out, Gremio will take the field again this week when the play host to Bolivian outfit The Strongest in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday night. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk FC Cincinnati set out looking to pick up an eighth consecutive victory when they go head to head with Nashville SC at the TQL Stadium on Wednesday. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona SC and Cobresal will be looking to wrap up their Copa Libertadores campaigns on a high in Thursday's encounter at Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly making an effort to sign a Premier League defender on a free transfer. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Wednesday, Czech Republic Under-17s will face Denmark Under-17s in the quarter-finals of the European Under-17 Championship. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both looking to return to their winning ways from the beginning of May, Mjallby AIF and Hacken will lock horns at Strandvallen during a Swedish Allsvenskan clash on Wednesday night. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A place in the European Under-17 Championships semi-finals will be at stake when Austria Under-17s face Serbia Under-17s at the AEK Arena.