John Hartson has questioned Celtic’s decision to sell Kyogo Furuhashi, suggesting the club made a major mistake by offloading a proven goal scorer without having a direct replacement ready.

The former striker shared his thoughts on X, highlighting how the issue still lingers months after Kyogo’s departure.

Kyogo left for Rennes in January, yet the club’s attacking output has dipped noticeably since. Adam Idah was signed permanently the previous summer for £9 million, but Hartson does not believe the Irishman has filled the void left by the Japanese forward.

Hartson, who was a key part of Celtic’s attack in the early 2000s, called the sale a gamble, one made worse by the decision to prioritise Idah in the starting lineup despite Kyogo’s consistent scoring record. He suggested frustration over playing time led to Kyogo’s exit, and that the club got their priorities wrong.

With Celtic now struggling for goals and the pressure mounting ahead of the second leg against Kairat, Hartson’s comments bring renewed focus to a decision that continues to divide opinion among supporters.

He said: “The sale of Kyogo was a big gamble and a mistake. He was frustrated by not playing every week.. Celtic sold him because they paid big money for Idah so felt there was an onus to play him.. he was class and we should have played him every week.. goal machine.”

Hartson’s view is one that many Celtic fans agree with. Kyogo was a top striker and the club let him go too early. His record in front of goal was clear, and his clever runs often made the difference in tight games.

The idea that the money spent on Idah affected team selection will not sit well with fans, especially now that results have dipped. Hartson believes the club may have made a business call rather than a football one.

Since Kyogo left, no one has come close to replacing what he brought. Idah is still leading the line, but his form has been up and down, and Celtic have looked short of ideas in attack.

With Champions League football on the line and pressure building, the need for a consistent goal scorer is more obvious than ever. For Hartson, it is simple. When you have a striker like Kyogo, you play him every week.