From Scottish Star to St Andrew's Struggle
When Birmingham City announced the signing of Kyogo Furuhashi in the summer of 2025, the buzz was palpable. Here was a striker with a sensational record of 85 goals in 165 appearances for Celtic, boasting Champions League experience and a work rate to match.
The expectation was clear: Kyogo would form a deadly partnership with Jay Stansfield and quickly assert his dominance in England's second tier. Unfortunately, the reality proved to be a harsh contrast. The 31-year-old stumbled, confidence evaporated, and he managed a paltry one league goal before a persistent shoulder issue sidelined him for good.
The Confidence Conundrum: What Went Wrong?
Morrison's Take: The Missing Clinical Edge
Former Birmingham City favourite Clinton Morrison, speaking exclusively to GOAL, expressed his disbelief at Kyogo's struggles. "I can't believe why it's not working because at Celtic his movement and the chances and the goals he was scoring were fantastic."
Morrison highlighted that chances weren't the problem; it was the finish. "He was getting the chances at Birmingham City but just wasn't putting them in... his work rate's fantastic but you've got to have a bit more than work rate when you're a number nine. You need to score goals and he was getting opportunities and he was just rushing at them."
Goodman's Grim Assessment: £10m Flop
EFL pundit Don Goodman, who witnessed Kyogo's decline first-hand, echoed Morrison's sentiments. He described the transfer as a "dream deal" that spiraled into a "nightmare." "He started missing real gilt-edge chances in those first six, eight games and you could slowly but surely just see the confidence drain away from him."
Goodman's assessment was blunt: "In terms of value for money, it's gone horribly wrong... He didn't look like he could hit a barn door, if I'm honest with you, after a difficult start." Despite his energetic movement, the clinical touch simply vanished.
World Cup Dream Dashed & Birmingham's Dilemma
Kyogo's torrid campaign had severe repercussions beyond St Andrew's. His prolonged form and fitness issues meant he was overlooked for Japan's squad heading to the 2026 World Cup in North America – a crushing blow for any international player.
For Birmingham City, Kyogo's struggles contributed to a frustrating season, with the club finishing 10th in the Championship, nine points adrift of the play-off places. Now, the club faces a significant transfer conundrum.
With Kyogo on a substantial salary, the question looms for Tom Brady and the Birmingham hierarchy: do they try to recoup some of their considerable investment by moving him on, or do they bank on a revitalized Kyogo finding his scoring boots next season? It's a high-stakes decision that could define their next campaign.
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