Kyogo could be back at Celtic over the next two days to lead the line in the Scottish Premiership match against Dundee United on Saturday afternoon at Celtic Park…
It’s almost a year since the 30 year-old left Celtic having scored 85 goals in 165 appearances for Celtic between July 2021 and January 2025 after joining in a £4.5million deal from Vissel Kobe. The Japanese striker was brought to the club by Ange Postecoglou and hit the ground running, becoming a talisman for the team and a huge favourite with the Celtic support.
Kyogo wanted to leave Celtic to fulfil his World Cup dream
He asked Brendan Rodgers for a transfer in the summer of 2024, in order to secure a move to a top five league in European football and in doing so enhance his chances of fulfilling his dream of playing for his country a World Cup.
Despite interest from Manchester City in that summer window Kyogo was not allowed to leave buy was given the green light in late January 2025 when French side Ligue 1 Stade Rennais F.C. had a £10m bid accepted and after playing for Celtic in the Champions League match against Young Boys as Celtic secured qualification to the knock-out rounds, Kyogo headed to France with Jota, in a separate deal heading to back to Celtic from Rennes.
Kyogo endured an unhappy, and goalless time in France
After an unhappy, and goalless time in France in the second half of last season, Kyogo signed for Birmingham City, newly promoted to the English Championship and managed by Brendan Rodgers’ former assistant at Celtic, Chris Davies.
Kyogo has mostly been used as a substitute at Birmingham
Kyogo has mostly been used as a substitute at Birmingham and has scored just one goal in 25 appearances, mostly from the bench. Just like at Celtic Kyogo is playing on the shoulder of defenders but ins’t receiving the service in a side looking to re-establish itself in a higher league. Birmingham currently sit mid-table in 14th spot, with nine wins, seven draws and 10 defeats so far this season. They have a 10 points cushion on 3rd bottom side Norwich City.
A move back to Celtic would suit Celtic are he’s guaranteed game-time and the chance to play in an attacking side as Martin O’Neill’s side will be playing attacking football in a the title race where Celtic once again have ground to make up after the board made a mess of things in so many ways since allowing Kyogo to leave without a replacement being sourced.
Celtic is going full circle replacing Kyogo with Kyogo
Now it looks like Celtic is going full circle replacing Kyogo with Kyogo and while there’s some ribbing to be had from that, it nevertheless looks like a great solution for all parties. Celtic and Kyogo may well be perfect for each other and that hasn’t been the case at either Rennes or Birmingham.
Martin O’Neill will get Kyogo doing his thing
The Scottish Sun today reported that discussions are underway to make this deal happen but there’s no indication on whether it’s a loan deal or a transfer, with the latter bing more likely as Birmingham will be looking at recouping some of their transfer fee paid to Rennes in the summer to re-invest in the January market.
For his part Martin O’Neill might not want to rush into too many deals that have been worked on by Paul Tisdale, although Shaun Maloney had been working alongside Tisdale since Wilfried Nancy’s arrival at the club in early December.
Stranger things have happened in football
As an experienced manager, with superb man-management skills, Martin O’Neill knows exactly what Kyogo can do and will be confident that he can get him back to his best very quickly. You never know he could even re-ignite Kyogo’s World Cup dream for him. Stranger things have happened in football.
We have been talking about re-signing Kyogo for several weeks on The Celtic Star so it would be a major positive if this deal goes through.
All Books Now Half Price in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…
Please note that p&p is priced at £4.50 is only charged on ONE book so you can buy as many of our books as you like and the postage cost will remain the same. Why not expand your Celtic library today?
Hope you’re right, have you seen him at Birmingham 😱
Have you seen Birmingham? 😱
Things are never as good the second time around——Another cheap option by a Board whose motto is :-
” Why buy a Rolls Royce when a Ford will do ” ? Kyogo is , however , bound to be better than we have at present . In fact his Granny is probably better that what we have at present—Let’s hope he bangs in 30 goals from now until the end of the season . ( 6 of them against the Gers ) . What’s good luck in Japanese ????
幸運を
No thanks.
Been there done that. Best wishes to him at B’ham.
Unlike managers strikers rarely improve after 30.
Hail Hail.
No brainer!
Up the road!