The potential departure of Kyogo Furuhashi from Celtic is a huge blow for the club, both on and off the pitch. Since joining in 2021, the Japan striker has established himself as a fan favorite, earning comparisons to Celtic legends like Henrik Larsson. His goals, crucial in big games, made him one of the most prolific players in the Scottish Premiership. With 63 goals, no one has scored more than him in the competition since his arrival, and his contributions were key to Celtic’s successes under Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers.
But Kyogo’s value went beyond just his goal tally. His movement, intelligence, and work ethic made him a unique asset to the team, one that will be difficult to replace. In his absence, Celtic will need to find a striker who can bring similar qualities, but it won’t be easy.
How can Celtic replace him?
Celtic do have options, but they aren’t a perfect match for Kyogo’s style. Adam Idah, the summer signing from Norwich, has shown promise but lacks Kyogo’s finishing and movement. He’s been impactful in some games, but he hasn’t been able to replicate the Japanese forward’s clinical nature in front of goal. Daizen Maeda, who also plays through the middle for Japan, has the pace and work ethic to offer something different, but his role as a wide attacker in Rodgers’ system has been valuable, and shifting him to a central striker could disrupt the team’s balance. Johnny Kenny, another forward, has potential but remains untested at the highest level.
Given the pressure to challenge for both the domestic Treble and a spot in the Champions League knockout stages, it seems likely Celtic will pursue a new striker in the transfer window. However, the club must move quickly to secure a quality replacement, something pundits like Chris Sutton emphasize, especially with the second half of the season fast approaching.
What do the fans and pundits say?
Many fans are upset by Kyogo’s potential departure, with some feeling it signals that he might have been looking to leave for a while, especially after changes to his representation. The timing of the move, in the middle of a season where Celtic still has plenty to play for, is especially frustrating. Podcaster Paul-John Dykes described it as “really disappointing,” emphasizing how crucial Kyogo’s big-game performances were. He and others are concerned that replacing him with the same level of quality will be nearly impossible, and without a solid replacement, Celtic could be left exposed in the second half of the season.
While a reported £10m transfer fee for a 30-year-old player might make financial sense, the real test will be whether Celtic can use that money to bring in someone who can hit the ground running and contribute as Kyogo did. Only time will tell if the club’s decision to let him go mid-season will pay off, but the sense of loss among fans is clear.
