In a surprising turn of events, Daizen Maeda was spotted in Birmingham shortly after helping Celtic edge past St Mirren with a narrow 1-0 victory on April 12, 2026. The match saw a crucial goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Maeda’s own performance has come under scrutiny.
Despite Celtic’s win, Maeda’s recent form is alarming; he has not scored or assisted in his last 13 games. This slump follows a season where he managed to score 8 goals and provide 8 assists in 47 appearances. The last time he found the net was during a commanding 4-0 victory over Dundee United back in January.
While in Birmingham, Maeda attended a Championship fixture where Birmingham triumphed over Wrexham with a score of 2-0. He also shared footage of his former teammate Tomoki Iwata, who has made 90 appearances and scored 10 goals since leaving Celtic.
Maeda’s teammate Kyogo Furuhashi has also faced challenges this season, struggling for game time. The connection between Maeda and Iwata remains strong, as they both shared significant moments during their time at Celtic.
Despite the ongoing concerns regarding Maeda’s performance, Martin O’Neill continues to express confidence in him. “Maeda will be keen to keep showing face,” noted O’Neill, emphasizing the importance of maintaining morale ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Fans and analysts are divided on Maeda’s future at Celtic, with some suggesting, “Maeda needs to be dropped,” while others hope to see the player return to form. “It would be lovely to see the real version of Maeda one last time,” a fan remarked, reflecting the sentiment among supporters.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Maeda to see if he can turn his fortunes around before the World Cup this summer. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any potential changes in his role at the club.