Birmingham City have utilised their healthy financial position well in the transfer market. The signing of Tomoki Iwata could be the next deal struck.
With Celtic supposedly open to offloading the former Japan international, the Blues could swoop in and secure the services of the 27-year-old. As a former Celtic assistant coach, Chris Davies will be looking to exploit his links to Brendan Rogers – the current Hoops manager.
Iwata, who has been at the Scottish side since an initial loan spell in January 2023, since featured 42 times for Celtic. The former Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder has also appeared four times for the Japan national team.
Birmingham have made 16 signings this summer, with an accumulative total surpassing £15 million in expenditure. Using the loan market has been another key aspect in the League One side’s recruitment, with Ben Davies , Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Luke Harris, and Alfons Sampsted all joining City on a season-long deal.
Recent links to ‘fan favourite’ Jay Stansfield, from his time on loan with the club last season, had speculated another spend of £10 million, but this has been freshly turned down by the London club. Birmingham are likely the only third-tier side that could’ve coughed up that type of money.
Last season in Celtic’s Premiership campaign, Iwata achieved a passing accuracy of 90.3%. This ranked the midfielder in the 97th percentile. A dribble success rate of 83.3% also landed the 27-year-old in the 96th percentile of similar players.
The Scottish champions have had a huge summer clear-out themselves, with key assets like Matt O’Riley and Oh Hyeon-gyu leaving the club. It seems Iwata is also being allowed to exit The Hoops as he is surplus to requirements at Celtic Park. The midfielder could join up with fellow Japanese player, Ayumu Yokoyama, who has also experienced life in the J1 League. Of course, this is if a move does materialise.
There is no confirmation, as of yet, regarding the amount Birmingham will be spending for the 27-year-old. Iwata’s move from Yokohama to Celtic cost the Hoops over £900,000, which Rodgers’ side will hope to recoup as much of as possible.
Currently sitting in fifth, and on seven points from three games, Birmingham followed up on an opening day draw with wins over Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient. In the EFL Cup second round, Stansfield was part of a Fulham side who helped knock out the Blues, with the 21-year-old even getting on the scoresheet.
Writer’s View
The spending power that Birmingham City hold over the rest of the league is ridiculously superior. New owners have massively benefitted the finances of the club, and this has paved the way for big money signings to be introduced to St. Andrews.
This could be a real coup for the Blues; getting an experienced top-flight midfielder in League One will send yet another threatening statement to the rest of the division. If Davies’ side could’ve struck a deal with Fulham for Stansfield, then it would’ve been a more than perfect window.
Iwata’s profile of dribbling at players and completing important passes in build-up, will massively suit the way Birmingham want to play in the third-tier. Promotion is looking very likely as it is, but the glory of the championship could come down to a decisive recruitment decision like this.
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