After a frustrating stint in France with Rennes, Kyogo Furuhashi will be hoping to rediscover the clinical form that once made him one of Asia’s most feared forwards. The Japanese striker joins an ambitious Birmingham City side aiming for back-to-back promotions and a long-awaited return to the Premier League.
Furuhashi made a name for himself with Vissel Kobe before becoming a cult hero at Glasgow Celtic, where he netted an impressive 85 goals in 165 appearances between July 2021 and January 2025. His scoring exploits caught the attention of Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, who signed him on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
However, Kyogo struggled to settle in France. With just six appearances and no goals to his name, he quickly fell down the pecking order behind Arnaud Kalimuendo and Ludovic Blas. Six months into his contract, Rennes agreed to part ways with the forward, paving the way for Birmingham City to secure his services on a three-year deal.
Backed by NFL legend Tom Brady, who serves as a co-owner, Birmingham have poured significant investment into their squad in pursuit of Championship success. Their efforts last season were rewarded with the League One title, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
Alongside Kyogo, the Blues have landed marquee names like former Leicester City winger Demarai Gray and ex-Fenerbahçe defender Bright Osayi-Samuel. The club also retained key figures from last season’s promotion push, including Jay Stansfield, Keshi Anderson, and captain Krystian Bielik.
Perhaps most intriguingly, Kyogo’s move reunites him with former Celtic teammate Tomoki Iwata, who has become a midfield anchor at Birmingham. The club’s Asian influence doesn’t stop there, with South Korean international Paik Seung-ho and Japanese playmaker Kanya Fujimoto—signed from Portuguese side Gil Vicente—adding both flair and depth.
With a strong core, fresh reinforcements, and a renewed sense of purpose, Birmingham City are building not just a team, but an identity. For Kyogo Furuhashi, it’s the perfect setting to reignite his career—and maybe, lead the Blues into a new golden era.