Tomoki Iwata has already told Birmingham City what to expect ahead of debut
Birmingham City signed Japanese midfielder Tomoki Iwata from Scottish champions Celtic on transfer deadline day
The signing of Tomoki Iwata got lost in the deadline day drama at Birmingham City but club insiders are extremely excited about the addition of the Japanese midfielder.
A full international with his country, Iwata played Champions League football for Celtic last season and featured against Atletico Madrid. And yet he had to settle for being the side story in Blues’ deadline day dash due to the club-record capture of Jay Stansfield.
But Iwata has the pedigree to make himself a fixture in Blues’ best XI under Chris Davies, despite the array of midfield options already in the building. Paik Seung-ho is essential, Marc Leonard is influential and Taylor Gardner-Hickman has Championship potential.
Iwata is most naturally suited to the number six role Paik and Leonard have rotated between in Blues’ midfield. The 27-year-old is powerfully built and has said in interviews that he wants to be a ‘tank’.
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Since moving to Celtic 18 months ago Iwata has focussed on improving his physicality to make him robust enough to thrive in the British game. “I think it is having a very positive effect,” Iwata said of his gym routine during an interview with Celtic TV. “And I will continue to work even harder to play to my strengths more than ever before.”
Iwata aims to be far more than a ‘tank’ though. He wants to contribute in an attacking sense when the game allows him to.
During a Scottish FA Cup game against Livingston last season, Iwata advanced into the box and pulled the ball back for compatriot Daizen Maeda to score from close range. He recorded one goal and one assist in 19 Scottish Premiership games last season.
“I always think about the part of my game where I’m involved in scoring,” says Iwata. “It’s one of my strengths to read and stop opposition attacks from defence, but I want to show that I can also get involved in goals on top of that.”
Blues have plenty of firepower. The pressure to score goals will fall on Alfie May – who has netted four in four in League One – Stansfield, Lyndon Dykes, Willum Willumsson and the plethora of attacking talent available to Davies.
Iwata’s mission will be to ensure Blues have an excellent midfield insurance policy which allows others to flourish. It is a role Iwata is well versed in.
“I think I’m getting the best out of myself in terms of duelling and one-v-one situations with my opponents but sometimes you can’t beat them physically in an aerial duel or when it comes to pure physical strength," he says. "You have to be smart and I have to improve the speed of decision making on how to deal with the situation.”
Davies will be well versed on Iwata too. The midfielder was taken to Celtic by Ange Postecoglou and played under Brendan Rodgers last season, two managers Davies assisted before becoming a number one himself.
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