Many Celtic supporters have already braced for Daizen Maeda to leave in January. Not because they want him gone, but because of how badly the summer was handled.
The Japanese winger made no secret of his desire to move after the window shut. He believed he had been promised an exit, only for that door to close when Celtic failed to land a replacement. When it was time to act, the board could not. Maeda stayed, not by choice, but by circumstance.
That impasse arrived in a chaotic window. Nicolas Kühn was sold to Como. Kyogo Furuhashi was not properly replaced for the second window running. Adam Idah’s departure left Celtic scrambling in the final hours, chasing signings instead of executing a plan. Recruitment collapsed under pressure, and Maeda became collateral damage.
Four months on, Celtic are on their third manager of the season. Instability is the backdrop, and many expect Maeda to push again for the move he was denied. In that context, it is easy to assume his exit is inevitable.
Wilfried Nancy does not see it that way.
Speaking to Celtic TV ahead of the Livingston game on December 27, Nancy insisted the winger’s future is not a foregone conclusion.
“He’s really happy here. He’s really happy here. And I knew that he had the opportunity to leave before. But for the moment, he’s with us and he’s happy to be here,” Nancy said. “We’d like to keep him. And he knows that. So I hope that he’s going to stay.”
