Kyogo Furuhashi has become a cornerstone of Celtic’s success over the last three years since joining from Vissel Kobe in 2021.
The 29-year-old has now won seven trophies at the club, establishing himself as a talismanic figure under Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers.
Overall, Furuhashi has registered 73 goals and 15 assists in 103 appearances for Celtic, with 19 strikes from 50 outings this campaign [Transfermarkt].
Adam Idah helped to alleviate some of the burden on the Japan international across the second half of the season, with both complimenting each other well in the run-in.
Looking forward, despite having to undergo an adaptation to Rodgers’ style of play, Furuhashi should continue to be front and centre for Celtic.
Kyogo Furuhashi’s talismanic qualities at Celtic
Despite unreliable claims emerging that Furuhashi could be on his way out of Celtic this summer, it doesn’t appear there is any substance to this notion, so file it under speculation.
Nevertheless, back to matters on the field. Furuhashi scored 14 times in the Scottish Premiership this campaign, which would be classed as slightly below his usual standards, given his level of talent.
Per Fotmob, Furuhashi’s Expected Goals tally came in at 19.11. Statistics aren’t a linear explanation for occurrences throughout a campaign; however, they can indicate patterns that form over a prolonged period.
On the face of it, this tells us that should he keep getting himself in goalscoring positions, this will eventually pay off at a higher rate than it has this season, in short.
Furthermore, a high proportion of his strikes tend to be decisive. Netting the winning goals against Rangers last September at Ibrox and at Parkhead in December are Furuhashi’s crowning memories from 2023/24 domestically.
Excelling on the European stage, the Nara-born forward converted in stunning fashion against Lazio and Atletico Madrid, and the club will need his expertise on the continent next season, with eight Champions League matches in store against different opponents across the new format roll-out.
Should Celtic manage to bring in one or two high-calibre creative players this summer, there is real potential to maximise the benefits of Furuhashi’s unique movement.
Supply him with the chances, and he will deliver, as supporters have seen so often in the past. 2024/25 promises to be an exciting time at Parkhead, and hopefully, their talisman will continue to be the main man in attack.
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