There haven’t been many bigger letdowns in the Championship this season than Kyogo Furuhashi and the longer it goes on, the harder it is to ignore.
When the 31-year-old arrived at Birmingham City last summer, it felt like a statement signing. A proven goalscorer brought in to lead a serious push back to the Premier League.
Plenty expected him to deliver.
And it wasn’t based on hype alone.
Kyogo had built his reputation at Celtic, where he was one of the most clinical forwards in Scotland for over two years. He won the Golden Boot in 2022/23 and continued scoring consistently the following season, earning a move to Rennes in the French top flight.
But that’s where things began to unravel.
Minutes were limited in France, momentum never came, and when Birmingham invested heavily to bring him in, it felt like a chance to reset his career.
At first, there were glimpses.
His movement was sharp, his positioning intelligent, and he still found dangerous areas. But one issue kept surfacing — the finishing just wasn’t there.
And over time, that became the defining problem.
As the season has progressed, those missed chances have turned into something more serious. Confidence has dropped, opportunities have become scarce, and now, heading into the final stretch, he is no longer a regular starter.
There have even been spells where he hasn’t made the squad at all.
For a player brought in to be the main man, that is a significant fall.
Celtic showed interest in a Kyogo return in January:
The numbers highlight the decline. Just three goals in 14 months since leaving Celtic tells its own story.
There was movement behind the scenes in January. Interest arrived from other Championship clubs, and a return to Celtic was also discussed.
The club made a loan enquiry early in the window, but the move didn’t progress. At the time, Kyogo was keen to stay and prove himself at Birmingham.
That decision made sense then.
But right now, it hasn’t paid off.
He has struggled to force his way back into contention, and an exit now feels increasingly likely as the season nears its end.
Kyogo would be best returning to Celtic in the summer:
At this stage of his career, Kyogo cannot afford another failed move.
That is why a return to Celtic stands out as the most logical option. It is a system he understands, a club where he thrived, and an environment where he delivered his best football.
Trying again in a new league, with new demands and new expectations, would carry risk — and time is no longer on his side.
From Birmingham’s perspective, they will want to recover as much of their investment as possible. But given his current form and situation, they may have to be realistic about the fee.
That could create an opportunity.
For Celtic, it would be a chance to bring back a player who has already proven he can perform. And for Kyogo, it could be the reset that gets his career back on track.
Because right now, this is no longer just a dip in form.
It feels like a turning point.
