Yahoo News Birmingham City complete Celtic transfer for signing No. 16
Birmingham City have secured a 16th signing of a remarkable transfer window after striking a deal to take Tomoki Iwata from Celtic.
The defensive midfielder has signed a three-year-deal to become the club’s third ever Japanese player, along with Ayumu Yokoyama – but misses compatriot Koji Miyoshi by a matter of hours.
The 27-year-old moves to St Andrew’s @Knighthead Park having spent 21 months at Celtic Park where he made 42 appearances in a variety of positions – but mostly in the middle of the pitch.
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Iwata was brought to Scotland by Ange Postecoglou who worked with him at Yokohama F. Marinos and – when the Australian moved on – under Chris Davies’ mentor Brendan Rodgers, who also played him at centre back.
Blues have signed Ben Davies and Christoph Klarer to play in Davies’ back four – and have underpinned their midfield with Marc Leonard who has slotted in well alongside Paik Seung-ho. Taylor Gardner-Hickman has also come in on loan to fortify the middle of the park following the departure of Jordan James and Juninho Bacuna.
