Celtic to Birmingham City via Rennes – Kyogo’s astonishing detour to World Cup Finals

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·20 juin 2025

Celtic to Birmingham City via Rennes – Kyogo’s astonishing detour to World Cup Finals

If someone had told you this time last summerKyogo would leave Celtic and end up playing for Birmingham City within 12 months you might have questioned their sanity…

Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Yet, that very much looks like a possibility. This time last year, Birmingham City were in the English third tier, had just hired a boss with no previous management experience and with new ownership and investment were hopeful of, but by no means guaranteed, promotion to the English Championship.

Vidéos OneFootball

Kyogo meanwhile was first choice striker at Celtic, winning numerous titles and just about to embark on a Champions League campaign with the Hoops.

September 16th 2024: Tomoki Iwata 24 Birmingham City celebrates after scoring Birmingham s third goal during the Sky Bet League One football match between Birmingham City and Wrexham at St Andrews in Birmingham, England Natalie Mincher/SPP

Fast forward 12 months and the Blues have had a remarkable season under former Celtic assistant manager Chris Davies. They have won promotion in emphatic style, are now in the Championship, and are looking to build a team to win back-to back promotions and make a break for the English Premier League.

Kyogo meanwhile decided a transfer flit to Rennes was more likely to result in international recognition for Japan and made the jump to France and Ligue 1, one of Europe’s so-called top five leagues.

Kyogo Furuhashi of Stade Rennais during the Ligue 1 match between Stade Rennais and RC Strasbourg on February 02, 2025 at Roazhon Park in Rennes, France. Photo by Manuel Blondeau AOP

While Birmingham City’s revival has been remarkable, for Kyogo the Rennes adventure has turned into a nightmare – and at that junction Kyogo and Birmingham City appear to have crossed paths.

Japanese outlet Sponichi are reporting the former Celt will team up with another ex Hoops teammate Tomoki Iwata and sign up for Birmingham City’s promotion push. They report:

Kogo Furuhashi of Rennes is likely to transfer to Birmingham City in the English Second Division, teaming up with Iwata again to lead the club to Premier League promotion for the first time in 16 seasons. It has been revealed by the 19th that Japan national team forward Kyogo Furuhashi (30) of Rennes in France’s first division is highly likely to transfer to Birmingham in England’s second division.

According to sources, multiple European clubs have shown interest in acquiring Furuhashi, who has struggled at Rennes. Among them, Birmingham, which aims to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2010-11, is the most enthusiastic, and Furuhashi himself has a positive attitude toward the transfer.

Furuhashi made a shocking transfer from Celtic, where he won numerous titles, to Rennes in January 2025. However, due to factors such as the immediate change of coach, he was limited to just six appearances in league matches without scoring any goals.

Next season will be a World Cup year. Regular appearances at the club are essential for making the squad, and it seems Furuhashi is considering a move to a club where he is likely to receive ample playing opportunities, as his evaluation is high.

Birmingham was relegated to the third division in the 2023-24 season, but they won the third division in the 2024-25 season, achieving promotion back to the second division within a year. Among them, Furuhashi played alongside former Japan national team midfielder Tomoki Iwata (28) at Celtic, who was selected for the season’s best XI and led the team with his performance.

If the transfer materialises, it will be a reassuring presence for forward Furuhashi. The goal-scorer who took Scotland by storm is aiming for a comeback in a new environment to achieve promotion to the Premier League after 16 seasons and a long-cherished spot in the World Cup squad.

Birmingham, England, September 16th 2024: Tomoki Iwata 24 Birmingham City celebrates after scoring Birmingham s third goal during the Sky Bet League One football match between Birmingham City and Wrexham at St Andrews Photo Natalie Mincher/SPP

It is unlikely Kyogo would have even considered the possibility of playing alongside Tomoki Iwata at any club other than Celtic this time last summer, yet it looks like this may well be a possibility this season.

Kyogo’s time at Rennes has been both underwhelming and disappointing. With a World Cup on the horizon, and the striker no doubt desperate to stake a claim for his inclusion in the Japanese squad for USA ‘26, he now has to be playing football regularly to stand any chance of making the cut.

Hajime Moriyasu, Head Coach of Japan, looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Japan and Croatia at Al Janoub Stadium on December 05, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Japanese national team manager Hajime Moriyasu has previously sneered at the standard of football played in Scotland. It will be interesting to see if the switch from Champions League to the Championship, will be met with his approval.

One thing is certain, Birmingham City are a big club, and Kyogo is a big player. Both club and player have been down on their luck in recent times, and this could be the ideal link up for both to realise their lofty ambitions.

Rennes vs PSG – Ligue 1 – 08/03/2025 Kyogo Furuhashi 7 – Rennes and Rennes players warm up prior to the Ligue 1 match between Stade Rennais FC and Paris Saint Germain at Roazhon Park on March 08, 2025 in Rennes, France. Photo by Dante Badano / PsnewZ

If Kyogo signs on I’m certain he’ll be a big hit at St Andrews. And if he grabs the opportunity, Birmingham City could be looking at back-to-back promotions and Kyogo could still make that plane to the World Cup.

Niall J

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