Celtic needs Kyogo more than we need €12 million

We need Kyogo more than we need €12 million. If he does indeed leave we need a top quality replacement coming in to replace him…

Kyogo celebrates before VAR rules out the goal for offside
Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates after scoring a goal which is later disallowed following an offside decision during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The news that French side Rennes have made a bid for Kyogo came as a shock to the Celtic supporters in the aftermath of clinching a place in the UEFA Champions League play offs.

The Brittany side are said to have bid €12 million (around £10 million) for our Japanese talisman, with talks said to be progressing towards a deal being done. While to some that would represent good value for a 30 year old we signed for £4.5 million, it could prove to be a huge mistake in sanctioning his transfer at this stage of the season.

Kyogo celebrates
UEFA Champions League Celtic Glasgow vs Young Boys Bern, Celtic Park. Goal celebration by Kyogo Furuhashi however VAR rules out the goal. Photo Joeran Steinsiek IMAGO

Of course the player himself might want to test himself at a new level, and that would be fine as he owes us nothing due to the success he’s brought us in his near four year stay at the club, but we would need to replace him with a similar quality of player or if not better.

Kyogo's goal is ruled out by VAR
Kyogo Furuhashi scoring a goal which is later disallowed following an offside decision during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

£10 million is a decent amount of money, but we need Kyogo more than the money that’s for sure.

A possible return for Jota softens the blow

Jota celebrates
Jota of Celtic celebrates with teammates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League group F match between RB Leipzig and Celtic FC at Red Bull Arena on October 05, 2022. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

Reports of a possible return for Jota softens the blow a little, but the Portuguese playmaker is a completely different player from Kyogo, and he wouldn’t be a ready made replacement. Jota is also going to need time to get himself up to speed, time he wasn’t given by Rennes.

Of course Daizen Maeda can play the central role and we have Adam Idah, but for me we need to fully replace Kyogo if he does indeed leave the club.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr, Volumes One & Two, Published by Celtic Star Books

CELTIC IN THE THIRTIES, VOLUMES ONE & TWO BY MATT CORR – OUT NOW! Order your signed copies below…

Click to order from Celtic Star Books

Order your signed copies from Celtic Star Books
Celtic in the Thirties, the bestseller by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. OUT NOW WHILE STOCKS LAST!

About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

4 Comments

  1. Andrew McKeever on

    I don’t buy this story. Why would Kyogo move to a provincial French team now and miss out on the biggest games of his career in CL playoff?
    Summer I suspect more likely.

  2. He is being kicked out by the board so they can cash in. Absolutely ridiculous levels of greed. That wee guy is irreplaceable without spending 30-40 million on one player, which we most definitely will not do. One step forward…………..

  3. How’s he been kicked out ya clown? How’s nit greed? He’s 30 years old and been bang average for a year..and I know for a fact he and Hatate told the club they wanted to move last year…yous are nothing but trouble making idiots

  4. Martin Blackshaw on

    I can’t understand why Kyogo would want to leave Celtic for Rennes. They say it’s because the Japan national team manager won’t call him up because he has a low opinion of Scottish football, so Kyogo reckons that a move to Rennes might increase his chances. He certainly hasn’t been as good on the field this season, but he’s always a danger and he does a lot of unseen work for the team. He’ll be a serious loss, no question, and Brendan will have to spend big to get anything close to his goal-scoring ability. I hear that Kvisgarden’s name is being rumoured again. He’s a decent player by all accounts, but maybe not quite as agile and tricky as Kyogo. Anyway, let’s see if the stories are true about Kyogo and then see what Celtic do in response.