Japan’s Maeda joins Diop, promoted Ipswich

LONDON (AP):

Newly-promoted Ipswich have signed Japan forward Daizen Maeda from Celtic, the English club said yesterday.

The 28-year-old Maeda played at the World Cup, scoring in a 1-1 draw with Sweden before Japan were eliminated by Brazil in the round-of-32.

Ipswich did not reveal financial details of the transfer.

Maeda scored 79 goals in 212 games with Celtic, helping them win five Scottish league titles.

Earlier this week, Ipswich signed Morocco defender Issa Diop from Fulham as they prepare for a return to the Premier League after one season in the second tier.

Ipswich said the 29-year-old centre back signed a four-year contract for an undisclosed transfer fee, which was reportedly 8.5 million pounds (US$11.4 million).

Diop, a former France youth and under-21 international, started in five of Morocco’s six-game run to the World Cup quarterfinals that ended in a 2-0 loss to France.

He scored a stoppage-time goal header to level against the Netherlands in the round of 32 before Morocco won a penalty shootout.

Diop’s family ties let him switch eligibility in March under FIFA rules to Morocco from France, where he was born.

Ipswich is Diop’s third Premier League club after spending four seasons at each of Fulham and West Ham.