When a footballer’s real-world transfer drama starts moving prices on Ethereum, you know the lines between sports and crypto have officially blurred. Daizen Maeda, Celtic’s 28-year-old Japanese forward, is reportedly attracting interest from four Premier League clubs, and the ripple effects are showing up in places most football journalists never bother to look.
Celtic values Maeda at around £25 million. His contract runs until 2027, which gives the Scottish club leverage but also a ticking clock. The club appears open to entertaining serious offers this summer rather than risk losing him for less as his deal winds down.
The transfer picture
Maeda’s stock has been climbing steadily throughout the 2025-26 Scottish season, with his performances toward the back end of the campaign doing the most to inflate his price tag. Nottingham Forest was mentioned as a potential suitor back in mid-May 2026, though no club has been officially confirmed among the four reportedly interested parties.
This isn’t the first time Maeda has been linked with a move away from Glasgow. A transfer to Wolfsburg collapsed last summer, and Southampton has been connected to his name in the past.
