​Martin O’Neill has come to terms with the likelihood of parting ways with Celtic’s star trio, though he clings to a sliver of hope that they might reconsider. At Tolka Park in Dublin for a midseason friendly on July 7, 2026, Shelbourne hosted Celtic, and O’Neill spoke about the players who are widely tipped to leave in the coming weeks. Like the supporters, he doesn’t want to see them go, yet he recognizes, as do many others, that he is battling a losing proposition.
On May 23, 2026, at Hampden Park in Glasgow, the Scottish Cup Final saw Celtic face Dunfermline. Daizen Maeda and fellow Japanese international Reo Hatate were both anticipated to depart Glasgow in the near future, and O’Neill shared his views on each. Regarding Maeda, he acknowledged a sense of resignation: “I think there’s some resignation in that aspect.” He explained that this isn’t a situation where Maeda has a year left on his contract and Celtic are trying to cash in, nor is it a straightforward call to cash in on a departing asset. “Personally speaking, I would love it if he just let his contract run through and played for the last year. Honestly, it would be super. I don’t know whether that’s in his mind or in his agent’s mind.”
Reo Hatate, who had already delivered moments of brilliance for Celtic, earned further praise from O’Neill. Speaking after a 1-1 draw at Ibrox on March 1, 2026, when Hatate had been involved in a late sequence that saw Celtic draw level, O’Neill highlighted Hatate’s impact: “I think that Reo has done exceptionally well at the football club since he arrived. People have said he might even have been the best player in Scotland two or three years ago.” O’Neill expressed a desire to keep Maeda if possible, noting, “He’s done brilliantly, and he’s got a year left to run. But I said to him, if he left the football club, I would be obviously disappointed, but he couldn’t have done any more for us.” For Hatate himself, O’Neill suggested that options would naturally arise, but if nothing materializes, he would be content to retain him.
Amid the speculation surrounding the club’s record signing, Arne Engels, there has been growing certainty that the Belgian midfielder will move on, with Nottingham Forest among the clubs casting envious glances as they put in late bids. O’Neill appeared to acknowledge an inevitability about losing Engels, reflecting a weary acceptance of the reality facing Celtic. He commented on the 11th-hour approach by Nottingham Forest in January, noting, “If, for instance, all those bids that Nottingham Forest made come in on the 11th hour – that was just a non-goer for us at that particular stage. So if some things can happen a bit earlier, then maybe there’s some resignation on my part.”
As the club contends with this incoming wave of transfer talk, O’Neill’s stance remains rooted in the belief that the players have given everything and that departures would be a natural consequence of the circumstances. The manager’s reflections underscore a bittersweet reality of modern football: talent moves on, even as loyalty and achievement bind players to the club for a time. The Celtic community, meanwhile, is urged to join the conversation and share their thoughts on these potential shifts in the team’s core.
Note: This summary consolidates statements attributed to Martin O’Neill across multiple appearances and dates, focusing on Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, and Arne Engels, and the broader context of Celtic’s transfer expectations during this period.