A national team striker, celebrated in Japan, is facing a release crisis in the French league.
The protagonist is Kyogo Furuhashi (30, Rennes). After moving from Vissel Kobe to the prestigious Scottish Premiership team Celtic in 2021, he has scored a total of 85 goals. Notably, during the 2022-23 season, he had an explosive performance with 34 goals and 5 assists in 50 matches for Celtic. He achieved the titles of top scorer, player of the year, and team of the year, winning four championships.
In the 2023-24 season, Furuhashi recorded 19 goals and 5 assists, and in the 2024-25 season, he maintained his form with 12 goals and 4 assists. Over three and a half years at Celtic, he has played in 165 matches, scoring 85 goals and providing 19 assists.
Rumors of a transfer to a major league surfaced. Furuhashi transferred to Stade Rennais last January. The transfer fee was 10 million pounds, with a contract lasting until 2027.
However, in France, Furuhashi has not fared well. He was isolated from the start, with only 7 touches of the ball in 66 minutes during his debut match. Following this, he fell behind in the competition for a starting position, registering 0 goals and 0 assists in 6 matches, producing a dismal performance.
According to 'The Celtic Way,' "Furuhashi has been placed on Rennes' release list. Celtic could re-sign him for just 5 million pounds, half of the original transfer fee. However, this too is unlikely. He is currently in negotiations with Birmingham City, a team in the English second division."
Birmingham City, where Baek Seung-ho and Lee Myung-jae play, recently got promoted from the third division and is in need of strengthening their squad. Will Furuhashi be able to recover his pride in another league?
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