Birmingham City target 'in building for medical' as West Brom seal £3m Celtic transfer

Birmingham City are closing in on the signing of Celtic midfielder Tomoki Iwata, a second deadline day addition from the Scottish Premiership.

Blues confirmed the acquisition of Scott Wright from Celtic’s bitter rivals Rangers this morning. The winger has joined on a permanent deal, with a fee of merely £300,000 paid as he only had 10 months left on his contract in Scotland.

Chris Davies’ side aren’t done there, though, as Iwata, a former international teammate of Koji Miyoshi, is understood to already be in the West Midlands for a medical. The deal is not finalised just yet with contracts still to be signed, but all parties are confident.

Iwata, four times a representative for Japan at senior level, has made 42 appearances for Celtic since signing from Yokohama Marinos in 2023. The versatile 27-year-old originally signed for the 54-time Scottish champions on loan before joining permanently last summer.

Predominantly a defensive midfielder but also capable of playing at centre-back, right-back or on either flank, Iwata should add depth in a variety of positions for Birmingham.

If signed, Iwata will become the 16th summer addition after Scott Wright, Ben Davies, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Ryan Allsop, Alex Cochrane, Willum Willumsson, Christoph Klarer, Emil Hansson, Marc Leonard, Alfie May, Alfons Sampsted, Luke Harris, Ayumu Yokoyama, Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Lyndon Dykes..

West Brom complete Celtic signing while Birmingham aim for repeat

In other transfer news, Birmingham’s local foes West Bromwich Albion have announced the marquee £3 million signing of Mikey Johnston, also from Celtic. The Republic of Ireland international returns to The Hawthorns permanently after a successful loan last campaign.

Johnston, mainly a winger but also an option through the centre, has put pen to paper on a four-year contract. The 25-year-old will be eager to build on the seven goals and one assist he contributed in 18 Championship matches for Albion last term.