Kyogo Furuhashi’s Rennes Struggles Linked to Persistent Shoulder Injury
Kyogo Furuhashi has endured a frustrating start to life at Stade Rennes, making just two appearances since his January move and still waiting for his first goal in Ligue 1.
The 30-year-old forward, who left Celtic in a £10 million transfer, has found himself on the fringes of the squad after manager Jorge Sampaoli, who pushed for his signing, was dismissed shortly after his arrival. Habib Beye stepped in as head coach and handed Kyogo a start in Rennes’ 1-0 win over Strasbourg, but since then, he has featured only as a substitute and has been left out of the squad entirely for the last two matches.
According to Atsushi Nakayama, a journalist covering French football for DAZN Japan, Kyogo’s ongoing shoulder injury—which dates back to his time at Celtic—has played a major role in his struggles. The striker suffered a shoulder dislocation late in Rennes’ 2-0 loss to Lille, which may have cost him the trust of the new manager.
Nakayama explained: “Furuhashi started the first match against Strasbourg but failed to make an impact. In the next match against Lille, he came on in the second half but suffered a dislocation of his left shoulder in the final minutes. While he wasn’t solely responsible for the defeat, he didn’t impress the new coach, and that trust was broken.”
With Rennes battling relegation, speculation is growing that Furuhashi could be offloaded in the summer. Nakayama believes that the club’s footballing philosophy and Beye’s priorities will make it difficult for the Japanese international to secure regular minutes.
He added: “Rennes is a club that traditionally gives young players opportunities, develops them, and then sells them on for big transfer fees. The new manager’s main goals are keeping the team in Ligue 1 and increasing the market value of young players. That makes it tough for a 30-year-old like Furuhashi to get many playing opportunities from now until the end of the season.”
Despite these challenges, Kyogo remains determined to fight for his place. Speaking to Japanese media, he reaffirmed his commitment to staying at Rennes and enjoying a long playing career.
“First of all, I want to do well here at Rennes and become a player that people want to support. I also want to stay here for a long time and play until I’m 35. Of course, injuries can happen, but I hope to keep going without any major setbacks,” he stated.
With his immediate future at Rennes uncertain, the coming months will be crucial for Kyogo as he looks to prove his worth in French football.
