Kyogo Reported to Join Birmingham City from Rennes

Kyogo Furuhashi, the 30-year-old Japanese striker who left Celtic for Rennes in a £10 million deal earlier this year, is reportedly set for a surprising move to Birmingham City in the English Championship. After struggling for game time in France, with only six Ligue 1 appearances, Kyogo is seeking regular play ahead of the 2026 World Cup to secure a spot in Japan's squad. The move would reunite him with former Celtic teammate Tomoki Iwata and Chris Davies, the current Birmingham head coach and a former Celtic assistant, who has a strong connection with Kyogo. Birmingham City, fresh off a dominant League One title win, are targeting back-to-back promotions to return to the Premier League, and signing Kyogo would underline their ambitions. Several European clubs have also shown interest, but Birmingham appear to be leading the pursuit, with Kyogo reportedly positive about the transfer. The striker, who scored 85 goals in 165 games at Celtic, is seen as a valuable addition to the Championship side's push for top-flight football.