Kyogo Furuhashi may not be a household name outside of Scotland and Japan, but those who know him are widely known as an exceptional striker, and Celtic’s transfer model, which focuses on developing players and selling them at a profit, could reach new heights with Manchester City’s interest in the Japanese forward.
The 29-year-old Kyogo has been a key member of the team since joining in July 2021, driving the team forward with his goals and energy. However, given his age, if Celtic were to consider selling the iconic player, they would likely need a significant offer to justify parting ways with such an important player.
Kyogo is a fan favourite and, despite the Bhoys signing Adam Idah for £8.5 million, the second highest signing in the club’s history, at the time of writing Idah is still second to the Japanese striker, showing how highly rated he is at Celtic. Despite criticism from outside Scotland about the quality of the Scottish Premiership and Celtic being significantly better off financially than other teams in the league, Kyogo has performed at the highest level.
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Kyogo scored two goals in six group stage matches in last season’s Champions League, despite Celtic finishing bottom of their group. His goals came against Atletico Madrid and Lazio, who ultimately finished first and second in their group, highlighting his ability to compete and score against the best opposition in Europe.
Kyogo has been able to play as a striker, second striker or left winger, showing great versatility when injuries have required him to switch positions. His main strengths are his speed behind the defense, his finishing and his ability to apply pressure.
He loves to make runs in behind opposing defenders, which is why he has thrived in close matches against the likes of Atletico Madrid and Rangers. With his ability to exploit gaps in the defense and apply relentless pressure on opponents, Kyogo is always a threat, especially in high-risk matches.
The Japanese forward’s aerial ability is often underestimated. Despite only being 5ft 7ins tall, he has scored multiple goals with his head thanks to his exceptional movement and timing – quite a feat considering the Scottish defender’s height and build.
Data from FotMob confirms Kyogo’s impressive performance in the Scottish Premiership last season. His expected goals (xG) of 0.69 after 2,500 minutes reflected his scoring prowess, but he also made significant defensive contributions, making 1.15 successful blocks per 90 minutes and 1.04 recoveries per 90 minutes. These figures highlight both his attacking threat and work rate.
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Playing in a possession-dominant team like Celtic, Kyogo takes a lot of shots, which would be an advantage at a club like Manchester City. He averaged 3.64 shots per 90 minutes and 1.33 shots on target per game, proving his ability to get into goal-striking positions and test the goalkeeper frequently.
Kyogo’s numbers in the Champions League differed from his stats in the Scottish Premiership: his expected goals per 90 minutes (xG) was 0.30 and he averaged 1.99 shots per 90 minutes, 1.00 of which were on goal. These numbers aren’t as impressive as his domestic league numbers, but they make sense considering Celtic finished bottom of their group.
This meant more defensive pressure and less attacking support compared to what Kyogo experienced in the Scottish Premiership, which likely affected his performance in the Champions League. However, his defensive production in the Champions League was also respectable at 0.80 blocks per 90 minutes and 0.60 recoveries per 90 minutes. Despite Celtic’s struggles in the group stage seeing them play against stronger opposition and spending more time defending, Kyogo’s contributions in these areas demonstrate his dedication at both ends of the pitch.
On the ball, Kyogo has certainly improved over the past year. Under manager Brendan Rodgers, who expects his strikers to play more link-up than previous manager Ange Postecoglou, the Celtic striker has focused on improving his first touch and ball retention. This focus on improving his ball retention and link-up play has been a key aspect of his development, allowing him to contribute more effectively in build-up situations and link up better with his teammates.
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One of Kyogo’s clear areas of improvement is his number of successful passes per 90 minutes. Last season in the Scottish Premiership, he completed 7.67 passes per 90 minutes, up from 5.65 the season before. Additionally, he created 0.86 chances per 90 minutes, up from just 0.35 the previous year under manager Ange Postecoglou. This increase in passing accuracy and chance creation reflects his improved teamwork and ability to adapt to the tactical demands of Brendan Rodgers.
This improvement in build-up play will undoubtedly bode well for Manchester City’s Kyogo. Like Brendan Rodgers, manager Pep Guardiola places a premium on his strikers being actively involved in the build-up play, frequently calling for them to drop deep, win the ball and force defenders out of position.
Kyogo’s ability to adapt to a fluid possession system is a good fit for Guardiola’s style, making him a good fit for a team that values complex attacking football. Kyogo’s teamwork and improved ball retention will be invaluable in such a system, allowing him to contribute effectively both as a goalscorer and as a key player in maintaining the team’s attacking possession style of football.
With Julián Alvarez’s departure from Manchester City, City are in desperate need of a back-up striker, and Kyogo Furuhashi could be ideal for the role, as he is a proven goalscorer in the Champions League and has experience playing in a possession-based system similar to Guardiola’s style.
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The Japanese striker’s ability to dominate domestic football and thrive in a pressing team means he would fit in well under the Spanish manager, whose skill set suits his tactical approach and makes him a prime candidate to adapt quickly and contribute effectively to Manchester City’s unique style of play.
Some may be left scratching their heads as to why Manchester City are interested in Kyogo, but there is a compelling reason behind the move: there are few back-up strikers with such a track record in world football and Kyogo’s humility is a huge asset.
His willingness to support Erling Haaland, combined with his track record and adaptability, make him a valuable addition, and his ability to fit into a high-pressing, possession-focused system and contribute effectively when called upon highlights why City view him as a viable option.
Author: Michael Shearer / @MichaelcShearer
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Craig Williamson – Social Media Group