The news we all wanted to see, more perhaps than a big-money buy, came this morning a Kyogo Furuhashi signed a new deal with the club, one that takes him one step closer to that status of “legend” and a possible place in the 100 Goals pantheon of greats.
I am thrilled that he’s done it, thrilled that the club has been able to announce this today, thrilled that all the media’s salivating over the possibility that we might lose the better part of this team, looks to be unfounded. It vindicates the Rodgers appointment, because only an appointment of that quality, and a man of that calibre, would have kept the wolves from the door.
Rodgers’ hiring was a statement of intent. Kyogo’s new deal is a statement of intent. That we offered one to Jota is a statement of intent. That we may well return to offer Abada the same – and I do sincerely hope we do – would be a statement of intent. This great engine of this club has roared back into life, just in time for the start of pre-season.
And that sound must scare the bejesus out of everyone who was hoping that the departure of Ange Postecoglou would be what Tolkien called “the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche.” They anticipated all the Japanese players following him out the door, and a few others alongside them.
It has taken a truly exceptional offer to turn Jota’s head, and truly exceptional money for Celtic for them to entertain it, and there may be other deals like that to come … but there will be no mass exodus now, and so our strength will be largely intact even if we don’t add further quality … which everyone knows that we’re going to, of course.
For weeks now, the media has been poised for “game changing” signings at Ibrox. They haven’t come and they’re not going to if we’re being frank. Kyogo can hit the 100 goals mark, just for Celtic, over the next two campaigns. He could be within touching distance of it before the next one is over. He’s the “next level” type player they haven’t got.
That means that his contract extension is, quite simply, the best bit of business a Scottish club has done in this window so far … but of course, we might be working on something that will blow even that out of the water completely.
Congratulations to everyone at Celtic who has made this happen.
It’s a fantastic announcement from the club.