The sudden departure of Kyogo Furuhashi has completely overshadowed Celtic’s 1-0 win over YB Bern to secure a place in the Champions League Round of 16 Play Offs.
Within an hour of the final whistle last night there were credible reports that a £10m deal had been ironed out, it seems that the move hinged on Celtic beating the Swiss champions with next week’s match at Aston Villa no longer critical.
Over three and a half seasons the Celtic support has become attached to the Japanese striker, coming out of Lockdown a hero was needed to lift the gloom with the smiling wee guy from Vissel Kobe fitting the bill.
He made a quiet debut off the bench away to Hearts in August 2021, scored away to Jablonec then announced his arrival with a hat-trick on his Celtic Park debut in front of 24,000 fans against Dundee as the capacity of the stadium slowly returned to normal.
A total of 85 goals followed but there are many more memories with eight trophy wins along the way, kicked off with a double against Hibs in the 2021 League Cup Final.
Things were still fragile under Ange Postecoglou, Paul Hanlon put the Edinburgh side in front. Within a minute and with Pyro sweeping the pitch Kyogo had equalised, he rattled in the winner in the 72nd minute despite going into the match with serious concerns over his hamstring problem.
That injury flared up again, Kyogo missed three months of the season but Giorgos Giakoumakis took on the torch to return the SPFL trophy back to Celtic Park.
https://t.co/jbwyOVvMdo pic.twitter.com/W4lqyOHw20
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) January 23, 2025
Back to full fitness, excepting his managed shoulder issue, Kyogo stamped his name all over the 2022/23 season with 34 goals despite the disappointment of being left out of the Japan squad for the World Cup Finals.
After some bit part performances in the Glasgow Derby he came alive in the fixture during 2023 spelling the end for the short lived Micky Beale Revolution, including the unique accolade of scoring in the Derby fixture at both ends of Hampden, Ibrox and Celtic Park.
The run started with an 87th minute equaliser at Ibrox in a 2-2 draw in January which was followed by goals either side of half time in the League Cup Final as the first instalment of the Treble was delivered.
At the start of April there was another double as a 3-2 victory sent Celtic 12 points clear in the SPFL Premiership, he didn’t score in the Scottish Cup Semi Final but Jota did before the trophy was delivered by beating Inverness Caley Thistle.
In September 2023 Kyogo’s lightening reactions silenced Ibrox with Beale gone by the end of the month.
Phil Clement got a sample of Kyogo in his Glasgow Derby with a brilliant chip shot around Super Jack Butland helping Celtic to a 2-1 win. It was Kyogo’s seventh goal in the fixture over the course of the year.
The final chapter was to help Celtic to progress in the Champions League last night with a win over YB Bern, VAR denied him on three occasions of what would have been a farewell goal. It took a lot of guts to go through that match knowing that the following day he was booked onto a flight to France.
Today there have been pictures at Glasgow Airport and Rennes Airport to signal a very low key departure for one of the most popular Celtic players of this century.
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We must have a replacement we are going in to the Dundee game with idah and Kenny don’t have a problem but we need another hope idah can start scoring again
— David Caw (@davidcaw1987) January 23, 2025
You can tell that from a side on photo from 50 yards away. Remarkable 😂
— FD (@F_Dev1888) January 23, 2025
Why post this ?
All I want is a bag of cans and Kyogo back.
— CelticFirst (@CELTlC67) January 23, 2025
Dembele hurt
Edouard hurt
Ange hurt
Jota hurt
Mat O’Riley hurt
But kyogo I can’t begin to explain how much this’ll hurt— JM 🇻🇦 (@JM1888_) January 23, 2025
Gutted. Gonna miss the wee 🇯🇵 🍄. What a player he was for us. But good business for the accountant I suppose. There BETTER be a replacement lined up.
— Glasgow’s Green & White (@top_tipz) January 23, 2025
Doesn’t feel nice does it?
— 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗵🏴 (@hamishdfc) January 23, 2025
— Ryan McGraw (@RyanMcGraw67) January 23, 2025
1 Comment
by Amcq14
Gutted, nothing like pouring cold water on the fans elation. I think the timing is all wrong and a summer transfer would have been wise. To be fair, if this was kyogo’s wish to leave to try to establish himself in the Japan squad (many are touting this as a reason) then I wish him all the best . However, I hope if this indeed the case, that his judgment is not flawed. The Japan manager appears to be a bit flakey at the best of times and delusional at others. To state or league is not good enough but constantly and consistently call-up and play Maeda just doesn’t make any sense. BR stated recently that any player not wanting to be at the club could leave. So, whatever his reasons for leaving he’s been a tremendous player for this club and I hope he’s successful in what he’s looking for, even if I do feel like crying.