Ipswich Town target Daizen Maeda hopes transfer value drops
Ipswich Town are reportedly interested in signing Japanese international Daizen Maeda, who has joked that he hopes to see his transfer value drop. The 25-year-old has been a target for the Blues, but his market value has increased after impressing at the World Cup.
What happened?
Daizen Maeda has been a transfer target for Ipswich Town, but his market value has increased after a strong performance at the World Cup. The Japanese international has been linked with a move to the Blues, but his value has risen, making it harder for the club to sign him.
Why it matters for Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town are in the market for a new striker, and Maeda has been identified as a potential target. The Blues have been linked with several other players, but Maeda's impressive form at the World Cup has made him a more attractive option.
What comes next?
Ipswich Town will need to act quickly to sign Maeda, as his market value continues to rise. The club will need to weigh up the pros and cons of signing the Japanese international, but it's clear that he is a player who could make a big impact at Portman Road.
As of July 25, 2026, Ipswich Town are 2nd in the Championship with 84 points from 46 games, a +33 goal difference, and 80 goals scored. They are 11 points behind leaders Coventry. The club's recent form has been WDDWD.
The article mentions that Maeda has been keen to depart Scotland for a while, with then-boss Brendan Rodgers revealing his desire to move on last summer. He even cleared out his locker at Celtic's Lennoxtown training ground, but a move to Wolfsburg collapsed following Adam Idah's switch to Swansea City. Now, after impressing for the Samurai Blue at the World Cup, Maeda seems to be aiming for a transfer once again, joking to Japanese TV programme PUSH that he hopes his market value drops so he can depart Celtic Park this summer.
"I wish it would go down even more!" he chuckled. "If it goes down, it will be easier for me to transfer teams. "I don't want it to go up." Seriously discussing his future, he added: "Playing in the Premier League has been my dream for a long time, so I think I have to work even harder to get there. "I believe that the next World Cup (2030) is at the end of the road if I cherish each and every day of playing football, so first and foremost, I want to cherish each and every day in front of me.
