It has taken its time, but the Ange Postecoglou era at Celtic is slowly coming together.
Following the signing of Sheffield Wednesday’s Osaze Urhoghide and Israeli winger Liel Abada, the Australian now has his third signing at the door of Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi.
The versatile winger has been in inspired form for Vissel Kobe this season, reaching 15 goals in 21 appearances, but he has only put Hoops back to a cool £ 4.5 million.
✍️ We have reached an agreement to sign the Japanese internationalist, @Kyogo_Furuhashi, provided that the usual conditions and international approval are met! ? # WelcomeKyogo ???
– Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 16, 2021
So who is the new signing? And what can Celtic fans expect from him at Parkhead?
Here’s everything you need to know.
It’s not a bad thing at all, it’s a bad thing. Tt し ま し た の の で, お 知 ら せ し ま す .https: //t.co/9wlbgm0dHv#VisselKobe and @CelticFC have agreed to the transfer of @Kyogo_Furuhashi. # ヴ ィ ッ セ ル ル 神 pic.twitter.com/4xp3q6dIlY
– v ィ ッ セ ル 神 神 @ (@visselkobe) 16 July 2021
At the moment the signing was announced, it was assumed that Postecoglou had swept in for a player he had previously worked with. But that is not the case.
He was in charge of Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan. Furuhashi came through the ranks at Chuo University and signed for third class FC Gifu 2017.
He immediately began to tear it apart and within 18 months he had signed for the Japanese giants Vissel Kobe, who had just sold him to Celtic.
However, this does not mean that Postecoglou flies blind. Far from.
The popular rumor that makes the rounds is that Furuhashi once did a hat trick against Postecoglou’s Yokohama F. Marinos, but that is not the case – it was against Yokohama FC, and after Postecoglou had left for Scotland.
But he managed to succeed with three goals in five matches against Marinos, especially in the Japanese Super Cup 2020, when Vissel Kobe edged Postecoglou’s side on penalties.
However, you should watch his Yokohama treble in the video above anyway. Masterful stuff.
?? ➡️ ??????? Good luck moving to @CelticFC, @Kyogo_Furuhashi?
? Bhoys, here’s what you have to look forward to! #WelcomeKyogo | @visselkobe | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/R5wFIvQV5v
– # ACL2021 (@TheAFCCL) July 16, 2021
Furuhashi does not really have a fixed position. For Vissel Kobe, he played from the left more often than not, but he is just as comfortable to come from the right or through the middle.
When it comes to his game, he is a dribbler and loves nothing more than to take the ball and run at people. He is also lightning fast and enjoys consistent balls – nine of his 14 J league goals this season came from low balls behind the defense.
Together. pic.twitter.com/ojl44elCXT
– Kyogo Furuhashi @ 亨 梧 (@Kyogo_Furuhashi) July 8, 2021
Starting to get a feel for what kind of player Celtic is getting now? Let us enlighten you further.
If there is one thing he hates, he loses it.
When asked earlier this year to describe his style of play, he said: “I consider myself fast, explosive and I can play in any forward position. But most of all, I absolutely hate losing.”
It bodes well for Celtic, then – judging by the opposition’s standard over the city, they can not afford to lose too often.
Furuhashi-Iniesta drömlag / Buddhika Weerasinghe / Getty Images
It may take Furuhashi, a light, tricky winger, some time to adjust to the Scottish game. But one thing that will not apply to him is the football standard.
This season he rubbed shoulders with Andres Iniesta and Thomas Vermaelen, while David Villa briefly joined Vissel Kobe’s forward line during his time in Japan.
So yes, keeping track of Callum McGregor and James Forrest should not be a problem.
Furuhashi’s form this season was always meant to take him to Europe, but he will not stay at Celtic.
Playing with Villa and Iniesta over the years has opened his eyes to the Spanish way of playing, and his dream is to get to La Liga.
“Much of my education came from playing with Iniesta and Villa. When it was announced that they would be coming, I thought to myself, ‘Will I really play with these legends I saw on TV? “
“They are spectacular players and have been an absolute treasure for my football development.
“My ultimate goal is to play the World Cup with Japan and eventually play in La Liga. I love Spain, I have visited the country four times and I always watch the matches from there every week.
“I’m even started learning to speak Spanish. My dream is to play there one day.”
