Sutton slams Celtic’s impending £10 million transfer, labeling it a “bad deal.”

Chris Sutton has never been known for holding back his opinions, and the former Celtic striker has once again made his feelings clear as Daizen Maeda edges closer to leaving Parkhead for Ipswich Town.

The Sky Sports pundit reacted strongly to reports that the Japanese international is set to complete a move worth around £10 million, arguing that the deal represents poor business for both Celtic and the player.

6th October 2024; Victoria Park, Dingwall, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Ross County versus Celtic; Ex Celtic striker Chris Sutton on Sky Sports

Taking to X, Sutton wrote:

“😂😂😂 Maeda is worth much more than £10 million and will find himself playing Championship football the following season. Bad deal for Celtic and Maeda…”

It was a typically outspoken response from Sutton, whose views rarely fail to spark debate among supporters. It is also worth remembering that his opinion may be influenced by his long-standing allegiance to Norwich City. As a lifelong Canaries supporter, the prospect of seeing a Celtic player strengthen Norwich’s biggest rivals was never likely to impress him.

15th February 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Ex Celtic star Chris Sutton

Despite that rivalry, many Celtic supporters are likely to agree with at least one aspect of Sutton’s comments. The reported transfer fee has prompted plenty of discussion, with many questioning whether £10 million truly reflects Maeda’s value after everything he has contributed during his time in Glasgow.

Since arriving at Celtic more than four years ago, the Japan international has become one of the club’s most dependable performers. His consistency, relentless work rate and ability to influence matches have made him a fan favourite, while his versatility has allowed successive managers to use him in a variety of attacking roles.

Considering those qualities, it is understandable why some supporters feel the proposed fee falls short of his true worth.

However, there is another side to the discussion.

Maeda has entered the final year of his current contract, a situation that naturally weakens Celtic’s bargaining position. Clubs often struggle to command premium transfer fees for players approaching the end of their deals because buying teams know the selling club risks losing them for nothing if a new contract is not agreed.

That reality inevitably impacts negotiations.

While Celtic could have attempted to demand a larger fee, doing so would have carried significant risk. Holding out for a higher valuation may have resulted in Ipswich walking away from negotiations, leaving Celtic with an unhappy player whose market value could continue to decline throughout the season.

13h May 2026; Fir Park, Motherwell, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Motherwell versus Celtic; Daizen Maeda of Celtic

From a business perspective, accepting a reasonable offer now may prove to be the most sensible decision, even if it feels disappointing compared to Maeda’s overall importance to the team.

Another important factor is the player’s own ambitions.

It has long been suggested that Maeda wants the opportunity to test himself in the Premier League, and Ipswich’s interest appears to have given him that chance. Reports indicate that personal terms have already been agreed between the player and the English club, with only the remaining formalities preventing the transfer from being officially completed.

If those final details are resolved, Maeda’s time at Celtic will come to an end after four and a half successful years.

Replacing his goals will certainly be a challenge, but perhaps not an impossible one. Celtic have consistently shown an ability to identify attacking talent and develop players capable of producing goals and assists.

Likewise, pace can be recruited from elsewhere, while tactical flexibility is another attribute that can be found with careful scouting.

What makes Maeda unique, however, is something much harder to replace.

His extraordinary stamina, relentless pressing and tireless running have been defining features of his game throughout his Celtic career. Week after week, he set the standard with his willingness to chase seemingly lost causes, close down defenders and force opponents into mistakes.

3EECA9R Celtic’s Daizen Maeda (right) celebrates after scoring his sides third goal during the William Hill Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Sunday May 10, 2026.

Many of those contributions rarely appeared on the scoresheet, but they had a significant influence on Celtic’s overall performances.

His intensity often lifted teammates around him, creating a level of energy that became one of the team’s greatest strengths. Whether starting matches or coming off the bench, Maeda consistently gave everything for the shirt, earning admiration from supporters through effort as much as ability.

That relentless commitment is arguably his greatest asset, and it is one that statistics alone cannot fully measure.

For whichever player eventually arrives to replace him, matching that level of work rate will be an enormous challenge.

Ultimately, opinions on the proposed transfer fee are likely to remain divided. Those judging the deal purely on Maeda’s footballing ability will understandably believe Celtic should have received considerably more than £10 million.

Others will recognise that contract situations inevitably affect transfer values and that the club’s negotiating power was significantly reduced once Maeda entered the final year of his agreement.

Both arguments carry merit.

From Celtic’s perspective, securing a substantial fee now may prove preferable to risking a further drop in value or potentially losing the player for nothing in the future.

For Maeda, meanwhile, the move represents an opportunity to fulfil his ambition of playing in the Premier League, even if Sutton believes Ipswich could struggle to remain in the division.

Attention will now inevitably shift towards Martin O’Neill and Celtic’s recruitment department. Replacing a player of Maeda’s quality is not simply about signing another winger capable of scoring goals.

The club must also find someone capable of replicating his relentless pressing, tactical discipline, incredible fitness levels and willingness to sacrifice himself for the team.

Those qualities helped define Celtic’s style of play during his time at Parkhead and played a significant role in the club’s domestic success.

Finding another player who can consistently deliver that complete package will not be easy.

Whether supporters agree with Sutton’s criticism or believe the circumstances justify the reported fee, one thing is certain: Daizen Maeda leaves behind a standard that any successor will find extremely difficult to match.