Celtic have confirmed the completion of a club‑record transfer, paying an initial £11 million plus various performance‑related add‑ons to acquire Norwegian striker Kasper Hogh from Bodø/Glimt. At the same time, Japanese forward Daizen Maeda has finalized a £10 million move to English side Ipswich Town. Both deals were announced after the players passed their respective medical examinations and are set to be sealed with long‑term contracts. Hogh, a Denmark international, has already undergone his medical and is expected to sign a four‑year contract with Celtic, with the club retaining an option to extend the agreement by an additional year.
Martin O'Neill, the Celtic manager, praised the quality of the new signing after the team’s recent 2‑2 draw with AC Milan, noting, "Without going too deeply into it, that's the calibre of player that we'd be looking for, who has scored goals in the Champions League." He added that bringing in a forward of Hogh’s stature would be "exciting for the fans" and could finally address Celtic’s longstanding goal‑scoring woes. O'Neill explained that Celtic struggled to find the back‑of‑the‑net for much of the previous season.
"For most of the time that I was here last season, we struggled to score goals. Hogh came up brilliantly for us in the last six or seven weeks of the season, but we didn't have that recognised striker. So that would be a big plus for us if we can do that," the manager said.
The Danish forward has been Celtic’s top target for the summer, and the club had initially inquired about him during the January window. However, Bodø/Glimt’s impressive run in the UEFA Champions League, which included a memorable victory over Atlético Madrid and a goal from Hogh, convinced the player to stay until the competition concluded.
During his time in Norway, Hogh amassed an impressive record of 53 goals in 102 appearances for Bodø/Glimt, demonstrating a consistent scoring rate that attracted interest from several top European clubs. Celtic’s willingness to break their transfer record underscores their ambition to re‑establish dominance in the Scottish Premiership and to make a deeper impact in European competitions. Meanwhile, Daizen Maeda’s departure marks the end of a successful chapter at Celtic.
The Japanese international joined the Hoops in 2022 under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou and quickly became a key figure in the squad. Over his tenure, Maeda netted 79 goals, contributed to five Scottish Premiership titles, three Scottish Cups, and two League Cups. Although his form dipped during much of the 2023‑24 season, he rediscovered his scoring touch in the final stretch, finding the back of the net nine times in the last seven league matches and helping Celtic secure a domestic double.
Maeda’s ambition to play in England’s top flight was well known, and after the season concluded he reiterated his desire to test himself in the Premier League. O'Neill acknowledged the forward’s aspirations, stating, "Naturally, I will miss him. He was in the last year of his contract. Before I came here, the club made him a real big offer, in our terms, at least 16 months ago.
And the lad refused to do it in the sense that he wanted to play in the Premier League if he could, or the Bundesliga. So I will obviously miss him, but I'm delighted for him at the same time, genuinely delighted for him. He deserves the move because he's been fantastic for the club." Maeda has now signed a three‑year contract with Ipswich Town, the newly promoted side often referred to as the "Tractor Boys" due to their historic association with agricultural machinery sponsorship. The Japanese forward arrives at Portman Road after a standout performance for Japan at the recent World Cup, where he helped the national team reach the round of 32 before being eliminated by Brazil.
Both transfers highlight the fluid nature of the modern football market, where clubs in different leagues vie for talent that can both improve on‑field performance and boost commercial appeal. Celtic’s record investment in Hogh signals a clear intent to strengthen their attacking options ahead of a busy schedule that includes domestic league fixtures, Scottish Cup and League Cup commitments, as well as a demanding Champions League campaign. In addition to the on‑field implications, the deals also have a financial dimension.
Sky Sports, the primary broadcaster of Scottish football, has announced that it will continue to air over 1,500 live matches across the Premier League, Women’s Super League, English Football League and Scottish Premiership in the upcoming season. The network will feature a minimum of 215 live Premier League games in 2026/27, ensuring that fans of both Celtic and Ipswich will have ample opportunity to watch their clubs on television or via the Sky Sports app. For viewers without a Sky subscription, the company promotes its flexible NOW TV service, which offers day‑or‑month passes without a long‑term contract, allowing casual fans to tune into key fixtures without committing to a traditional subscription. Overall, the arrival of Kasper Hogh promises to inject fresh firepower into Celtic’s attack, while Daizen Maeda’s move to Ipswich provides the English side with a proven goal scorer eager to prove himself in the Premier League.
Both players bring a blend of experience, international pedigree, and a hunger for new challenges, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in their respective careers.