When Kyogo Furuhashi arrived at Birmingham City last summer, he promised one thing above all else: goals. Five months into his three-year deal, that promise remains unfulfilled, with the Japanese striker mired in a concerning scoring slump.
A Striker's Promise Turned to Frustration
The 30-year-old forward was the standout signing in a window that saw 12 new players arrive at St Andrew's. His pedigree was impeccable, having netted 85 times in 165 appearances for Celtic. Speaking in July, a confident Kyogo beamed about bringing goals to Blues' party. The reality has been starkly different.
As Birmingham prepare to face Sheffield United this weekend, Kyogo is still waiting for his first Championship goal. His only strike since leaving Celtic 12 months ago was a tap-in against the same opponents in the Carabao Cup back in August. This extends a barren run to 19 games without a goal for Birmingham, a statistic that grows to 25 league games in 2025 if his disappointing loan stint at Rennes is included.
Missed Chances and a Warning from Celtic
The drought has been punctuated by a series of costly misses. Opportunities spurned against Oxford, Swansea, Sheffield Wednesday, and Hull City have been compounded by a glaring point-blank miss against Southampton a fortnight ago. Data shows Kyogo has now missed 10 big chances in the Championship without scoring.
This troubling form appears to validate concerns raised from his former club. In the summer, a Celtic reporter suggested on the Keep Right On Podcast that the club had "got the peak years out of him" and that selling him for £10million was wise business. With Blues boss Chris Davies having strong links to Celtic and Brendan Rodgers, the manager who sold Kyogo, questions are now being asked about whether this warning was heeded.
What Comes Next for Kyogo and Blues?
The hope within the club is that this is merely a psychological rut. History shows that once a single goal goes in, the floodgates can open. Teammate Alfie May proved this last season, ending a 16-game drought with a substitute goal against Shrewsbury before going on to score five times in 10 days.
Time, however, may be running out for Kyogo to trigger a similar revival. The January transfer window is fast approaching, and if Lyndon Dykes departs, the club is likely to enter the market for another striker. Such a move could relegate the struggling forward to fourth choice in the pecking order.
Manager Chris Davies is in a difficult position, unable to persistently rely on a striker missing gilt-edged chances. The 2025 version of Kyogo is not what Birmingham invested in. The club and its fans are left hoping the prolific goal machine they believed they signed is still trapped within that 5ft 6in frame, waiting for a breakthrough moment to finally show up.
