Celtic delighted to sign Japanese internationalist, Kyogo Furuhashi…
An official Celtic statement this morning confirming the signing of the current top scorer in the J-League, Kyogo Furuhashi, from J1-League club Vissel Kob reads:
Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that it has reached agreement to sign Japanese internationalist, Kyogo Furuhashi, from J1-League club Vissel Kobe, subject to the satisfaction of usual conditions and international clearance.
The 26-year-old forward is regarded as one of the most exciting talents in Japanese football and will join Celtic on a four-year deal.
He is the current top scorer in the J1 League – the top division in Japan – with 14 goals in 20 games, and he is a team-mate of Spanish football legend, Andres Iniesta, who captains the side.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou said: “We are delighted to bring Kyogo Furuhashi to Celtic. He is a player of real quality and clearly someone I know well.
“I think he will add something special to our squad and I am sure the way he plays will excite our supporters. We look forward to welcoming him to Celtic.”
Kyogo Furuhashi has helped Vissel Kobe win the only two trophies in the club’s history so far – the Emperor’s Cup, when they beat Kashima Antlers 2-0 in the final on New Year’s Day 2020, and the subsequent Japanese Super Cup.
That match against the J1 league champions, Yokohama F Marinos, who were then managed by Ange Postecoglou, saw Kyogo Furuhashi score in the 3-3 draw, with Vissel Kobe winning the penalty shoot-out.
Now, having faced Ange Postecoglou’s side in Japan, Kyogo Furuhashi will now play under the Australian manager at Celtic
Kyogo Furuhashi, who made his international debut against Venezuela in November 2019, has scored three goals in six appearances for Japan.
Ange Postecoglou has signed one of the top goalscorers in the Japanese League without the media having any clue whatsoever about the deal until the transfer was agreed. Kyogo Furuhashi has agreed to join Celtic and the goalscoring winger is the first signing who has clearly been identified and targeted because of the Celtic manager’s knowledge of the J-League.
The new Celtic striker is currently the top scorer in Japanese football, with 14 goals in 20 appearances this season and as you will see by checking his record below, he is a well established goalscorer. And at 26 years old he is coming to Celtic at his peak.
An official Vissel Kobe statement confirms the transfer to Celtic: “We are pleased to announce that we have reached a basic agreement between the clubs regarding the complete transfer of forward Kyogo Furuhashi (26) to Celtic FC, from the Scottish Premiership.
“In the future, a formal contract will be signed after undergoing local medical checks.”
✍️ We have reached agreement to sign Japanese internationalist, @Kyogo_Furuhashi subject to the satisfaction of usual conditions and international clearance! 🍀#WelcomeKyogo 😍🇯🇵
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 16, 2021
Here’s the fact-file on Kyogo Furuhashi from the official Vissel Kobe website:
■ Date of Birth: January 20, 1995 (26 years old)
■ Height / weight: 170cm / 63kg
■ Position: FW
■ Birthplace: Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture
■ Team history: Sakuragaoka Football Club (’01 -’06 / Ikomadai Small / Nara) → Aspegas Ikoma Football Club (’07 -’09) → Kokoku High School (’10 -’12) → Chuo University (’13 -‘ 16) → FC Gifu (’17 -’18) → Vissel Kobe (’18 .8-)
■ Participation history:
[J1 League total] 94 games participation 41 goals
[J2 League total] 68 games participation 17 goals
[League Cup total] 2 games participation 0 goals
[Emperor’s Cup total] 9 games participation 3 goals
[ACL total] 7 games participation 3 goals
■ Individual title: J League Outstanding Player Award (2019, 2020)
■ Titles won: Emperor’s Cup All Japan Soccer Championship (2019), J League Super Cup (2020)
■ Representative history: Japan national team (2019, 2021) * International A match 6 games participation 3 goals
古橋亨梧選手のスコティッシュ・プレミアシップに所属するセルティックFCへの完全移籍について、クラブ間での基本合意に達しましたので、お知らせします。https://t.co/9wlbgm0dHv#VisselKobe and @CelticFC have agreed to the transfer of @Kyogo_Furuhashi. #ヴィッセル神戸 pic.twitter.com/4xp3q6dIlY
— ヴィッセル神戸 (@visselkobe) July 16, 2021
WOW WOW WOW
Kyogo Furuhashi joins Ange Postecoglou at Celtic! https://t.co/2AitpG3mes
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) July 16, 2021
The 26-year-old winger will undergo a medical before completing his move to Celtic and a work permit will also be required to move to Scotland. As an international player that should not be a problem. A fee of 700 million yen has been reported, that’s works out at around £4.6m.
Celtic are also looking to complete the signing of Carl Starfelt imminently. The Swedish defender travelled to Moscow to undergoing a medical ahead of his £4.25m move to Glasgow’s East End.
