Former Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi has paid tribute to the club and his time in Glasgow after linking back up with Tomoki Iwata at Birmingham City.
Kyogo, who departed the Hoops earlier this year following a prolific spell, spoke warmly about his experiences in Scotland, where he became a fan favourite for his goals and relentless work rate.
His move to Rennes in Ligue 1 proved to be a more challenging chapter, with the forward now opening up about those difficulties and his hopes for the future in English football.
The Japanese forward admitted his six-month stint in France didn’t go as planned but stressed he has no regrets about the move. Now, with a fresh start at Birmingham and the comfort of a familiar face in Iwata, Kyogo is looking to settle quickly and push for success in the Championship.
With Birmingham aiming for promotion to the Premier League under Chris Davies, the striker is determined to make an impact and help lead the Blues to promotion.
He said: (Blues+), “I have good memories (from Celtic) with lots of titles, so it was a wonderful three and a half, four years. Lots of fans still say hello to me, so I felt I was really lucky. But this is a new place, and I’d like to do my best here.
“There might be more pressure, but we will enjoy playing together on the pitch and fighting. I’m happy to be able to play with Tomoki again, and he said the same too. So we’d like to aim to be in the Premier League together.”
“It was a difficult time for me, but I don’t have any regrets going there. I’ve gained some experience, so I’d like to use that here.”
Kyogo’s words will strike a chord with Celtic supporters who saw him win trophies and lead the attack with real quality.
Although he and Iwata didn’t play together much in Glasgow due to injuries and different roles, they’ll now have the chance to build that connection in Birmingham.
His comments also highlight how tough it can be for players to settle into a new league or country, especially after a big move. Even though his time in France was difficult, Kyogo seems focused and ready for the next challenge.
With both players now part of Birmingham’s rebuild, plenty of Celtic fans will be watching closely to see how they get on in the English Championship.
