Kyogo Furuhashi, who previously starred for Celtic, appears poised to rejoin the Scottish club from Birmingham City this January. The 30-year-old striker is Celtic’s top priority as manager Martin O’Neill seeks reinforcements ahead of the upcoming Dundee United fixture.
Furuhashi initially arrived at Celtic in 2021 from Japan’s J-League, signed by Ange Postecoglou. During his time at Parkhead, he scored 85 goals across 165 appearances and captured eight trophies. His successful spell ended when he transferred to French side Stade Rennes in January, departing after establishing himself as a key player for the club.
His French adventure lasted merely six months before he moved to Birmingham City last summer for a reported £10 million. However, his stint in England has proven disappointing. The striker has managed just a single goal for Birmingham and remains goalless in league competition this season, raising concerns about his international prospects for Japan’s World Cup squad.
Celtic has struggled to adequately replace Furuhashi since his departure. Johnny Kenny represents the sole fit first-team striking option for O’Neill, while Kelechi Iheanacho, signed on a free transfer, continues battling injury problems. Club officials have reportedly begun exploring a potential deal for the forward within the last day, with O’Neill emphasizing the urgent need for attacking reinforcement.
Birmingham manager Chris Davies recently acknowledged Furuhashi’s frustration at the Championship club. Davies noted that while opportunities have been created for the striker, he has failed to convert his chances consistently. The manager emphasized that Furuhashi possesses the quality to succeed but must capitalize on the opportunities presented to him moving forward.
