Atlanta United announcement amid Kyogo Celtic exit fears

Celtic v Rangers - Premier Sports Cup Final
Celtic v Rangers - Premier Sports Cup Final | Visionhaus/GettyImages

Quite a few high-profile Celtic players have been linked with moves away from the club in recent weeks. One of them is Kyogo Furuhashi. In the summer, it was believed that the Japanese forward was on the radar of Manchester City as the replacement for Julian Alvarez. Now, Atlanta United are believed to have their eyes set on him.

Atlanta United have already signed one Celtic striker in the past. Giorgos Giakoumakis, a former teammate of Kyogo, joined the MLS side and proved to be a major success there. Now, could they be looking to repeat the trick?

It is no secret that since the arrival of Brendan Rodgers, Kyogo has struggled to meet the standards that he set for himself while Ange Postecoglou was manager. But he remains the number one option up front for Celtic and letting him leave in the middle of the season would be a risky decision.

Celtic fans were left worried though when Atlanta United teased a signing on social media. It included a Japanese phrase that translates to 'stay tuned'.

Atlanta United announcement amid Kyogo Celtic exit fears

Naturally, most Celtic fans felt that Atlanta United were hinting at the arrival of Kyogo. But as it turns out, they have signed a different Japanese player.

Atlanta United would later go on to announce the arrival of Cayman Togashi. They have signed the forward on a free transfer through the 2025 MLS season with an option for 2026.

Of course, this does not mean that Atlanta United cannot sign Kyogo this winter. But considering they have already brought in a forward, it does feel a bit unlikely at this point in time. Also, one would think that Celtic would resist any offers for the Japanese striker in the middle of the season, until they have a proper replacement.