It started as a gold rush. Ange Postecoglou, with an encyclopedic knowledge of Japanese football, walked through the door at Celtic Park and immediately mined the J-League for its finest exports.
Kyogo Furuhashi was first through the gates, a masterstroke signing who transformed Celtic’s attack. Then came Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda, each adding their own unique blend of guile, grit, and relentless energy. For a time, it felt like Celtic had unlocked a market others had overlooked, an untapped well of technical excellence and work ethic.
Yet, as swiftly as it began, the pipeline has run dry. Postecoglou is gone, his influence now shaping Tottenham Hotspur, and with him seemingly went Celtic’s appetite for J-League talent. In the 18 months since his departure, the club hasn’t so much as been linked with another Japanese player, never mind actually signed one.
Why?
Success Should Breed Continuity, Not Complacency
This isn’t a case of the experiment failing. Far from it. Kyogo was a revelation during his time at the club. Reo Hatate, when fit, is one of the best midfielders in Scotland, his blend of vision and technical ability bordering on elite. And Maeda? He’s Celtic’s top Champions League scorer in over a decade. Not a bad return for a £1.2m investment.
Even some of the misses from the J-League – Yuki Kobayashi, Tomoki Iwata, Yosuke Ideguchi – have been more about adaptation than outright failure. Kobayashi looks out of his depth, but Iwata has shown flashes of quality when given a run. Ideguchi, admittedly, was an unfortunate signing, hampered by injuries from the outset.
But the overall success rate should be encouraging, not discouraging. If the first batch of signings produced two or three transformative players, why not go back for more? This is what makes the club’s current stance – or apparent lack of one – so baffling.
A Change in Vision, A Change in Direction
The most obvious factor is the departure of Postecoglou himself. He was the architect, the man who knew the league inside out, trusted its players, and was willing to vouch for them. But Celtic’s scouting network should not be so reliant on one man’s knowledge. The J-League remains a fertile ground for recruitment, producing technically gifted, tactically astute players who, crucially, are affordable.
Perhaps the club’s decision-makers have shifted their focus. Brendan Rodgers returned last summer and has clearly preferred experience over raw potential. Whether that is his call or that of the recruitment team is unclear, but what is clear is that the club’s transfer priorities have changed.
If the aim is to recruit cost-effective, high-upside talent, then the J-League should be at the top of the list. Instead, Celtic seem intent on looking elsewhere – where prices are higher, risks are greater, and the success rate is no more guaranteed.
Scouting or Stubbornness?
There is also the question of whether Celtic’s scouting network is truly doing its job. Surely they’ve not dismissed an entire market simply because the man who introduced it to them has left? Japan continues to produce outstanding players, some of whom have already made the leap to Europe with success. Kaoru Mitoma at Brighton is proof that the Premier League can be a destination for J-League graduates. Surely Celtic, with its financial constraints and need for value, should be looking at these players before they hit England’s radar?
Even if Rodgers himself isn’t as familiar with the league, that shouldn’t matter. A strong recruitment team should identify opportunities and present them to the manager. If that process isn’t happening, then serious questions need to be asked about the club’s scouting department.
Time to Dig for Gold Again
There’s an old saying: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The J-League signings under Postecoglou weren’t just a novelty; they were a blueprint. They showed that Celtic could find value in an overlooked market, bringing in players who could thrive domestically and, crucially, compete in Europe.
Right now, the club looks like it’s searching for answers in all the wrong places. The J-League pipeline has been abandoned, and there’s little justification for it. If Celtic are serious about evolving, about finding the next Kyogo or Hatate, then it’s time to go back and start digging for gold once again.
Because the evidence is there—it’s just being ignored.
