Seven years after leaving St Andrews, Che Adams is thriving in Serie A while summer signing Kyogo Furuhashi struggles to find the net for Chris Davies’ side.
Birmingham City are finally a club looking upward. Under the ownership of Knighthead and the tactical guidance of Chris Davies, the Blues are firmly in the hunt for a Premier League return after a 15-year hiatus.
However, not every piece of the £30 million summer puzzle has fit. While Jay Stansfield (9 goals) and Marvin Ducksch (7 goals) have impressed, the club’s £9m investment in Kyogo Furuhashi has fast become a source of frustration at St Andrews.
The Kyogo Struggle: By the Numbers
The Japanese international arrived from Stade Rennes with huge expectations, intended to be the clinical edge to propel Birmingham into the top flight. Instead, the 31-year-old has looked isolated and wasteful.
Kyogo Furuhashi: 2025/26 Championship Stats:
- League Appearances: 26
- Goals: 1
- Big Chances Missed: 12
- Shot Accuracy: 28%
- xG Underperformance: -4.0 (Expected to have at least 5 goals)
Kyogo’s lack of impact has seen him relegated to the bench in recent weeks, raising questions about his long-term future in the West Midlands.
The Return of the King? Why Che Adams is the Answer
As Birmingham fans watch their side struggle for consistent goals from their marquee striker, many are looking back at Che Adams. Seven years after his £15m move to Southampton, the 29-year-old is enjoying a “terrific” spell in Italy with Torino.
Adams, who scored 22 goals in his final season for the Blues, has proven he can cut it in one of Europe’s most defensive leagues.
Che Adams vs Kyogo (2025/26 Comparison):
| Statistic (per 90) | Che Adams (Torino) | Kyogo (Birmingham) |
| :— | :— | :— |
| Goals Scored | 4 (Serie A) | 1 (Championship) |
| Shot Accuracy | 35% | 28% |
| Chances Created | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| Aerials Won | 43% | 19% |
A Fairytale Reunion?
The data doesn’t lie: Che Adams is currently a far superior all-round attacker. His physicality, aerial dominance, and clinical finishing in Serie A make him exactly the kind of “upgrade” Chris Davies needs to secure a play-off spot.
With Adams nearly completing a “fairytale return” last summer, the Birmingham hierarchy may well revisit the deal in 2026. Whether the Blues find themselves in the Premier League or remaining in the Championship, re-signing a club hero who is currently outperforming a £9m summer arrival seems like the most logical move to fix the club’s attacking woes.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
