Despite Daizen Maeda currently enjoying his best season in green and white, his Celtic teammate Kyogo Furuhashi has been named in the Japanese PFA’s Team of the Year [The Scottish Sun].
The striker has netted 16 goals in 45 games throughout 2024 for his side and was recently recalled to Hajime Moriyasu’s national team for his antics.
Kyogo hasn’t been at his prolific best this year, but by his fellow countrymen, he was voted as one of the best players in his homeland throughout 2024.
The 29-year-old was named in Japan’s best XI alongside the likes of Borussia Monchengladbach’s Ko Itakura, Liverpool star Waturo Endo, Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal, and Brighton and Hove Albion ace Karou Mitoma.
Despite PFA recognition, Kyogo has fallen out of favour on the international scene. Although he has the same number of caps as club teammate and fellow countryman Maeda, the centre-forward has played just once for the Samurai Blue this year: a 13-minute cameo in a World Cup qualifier against China.
With growing transfer interest from Atlanta United, the striker’s future is seemingly up in the air. Ronny Deila’s side could reportedly make a January move for Kyogo, who hasn’t been at his clinical best this season.
Regardless, his form throughout the calendar year has been enough to be included in the Japanese PFA team of 2024, which can’t be a bad thing.
