When Tomoki Iwata made the decision to leave Celtic in the summer and join Birmingham City—then playing in England’s League One—it caught many people by surprise. After all, Celtic are Scotland’s most successful football club. The Japanese midfielder had been part of a squad that regularly competed for and won trophies, featured in the UEFA Champions League, and played in front of one of the most passionate fanbases in world football. So when the news broke that he had opted to move to a side in the third tier of English football, eyebrows were raised.
On paper, it looked like a significant step down. He was leaving the glitz of European nights at Celtic Park, the pressure and pride of the Glasgow Derby, and the chance to lift silverware season after season. For what? A rebuild job with Birmingham City—a club that had just suffered relegation from the Championship, had seen a revolving door of managers in recent years, and was staring down the barrel of another season of uncertainty in England’s often unpredictable and grueling third division.
But look closer, and Iwata’s move starts to make more sense. Celtic, under Brendan Rodgers, had a crowded midfield. With the likes of Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, and Paulo Bernardo ahead of him in the pecking order, regular starts were hard to come by. Despite racking up 42 appearances in total for the Hoops, many of those came from the bench or in rotation. Iwata rarely had the chance to truly establish himself as a consistent starter in the green and white.
Enter Birmingham City—a fallen giant of English football with a proud history, a loyal fanbase, and now, thanks to American investment, a new sense of ambition. With Tom Brady—a seven-time Super Bowl champion—as a minority owner and face of the club’s rebirth, Birmingham were looking to restore their status. Backed by fresh funding and a revamped sporting structure, they set their sights on immediate promotion back to the Championship. And they needed players like Iwata—experienced, technically sound, and hungry for a bigger role—to help get them there.
For Iwata, it was a gamble. But it was also an opportunity: the chance to step out of the shadows and become a key player rather than a squad option. The risk was that he’d be leaving a club where success was almost guaranteed for one mired in uncertainty. But the reward? A new challenge and the platform to prove himself in English football.
And prove himself he did.
Throughout the 2024/25 season, Iwata quickly became a vital cog in Birmingham’s midfield. His composure on the ball, tactical discipline, and ability to read the game allowed him to anchor the team through some challenging stretches. He brought a level of professionalism and experience that gave Birmingham a much-needed edge in tight games. Week in, week out, he played with quiet consistency—rarely flashy, but always effective.
That consistency paid off as Birmingham steadily climbed the League One table. And then came the defining moment: a midweek clash with Peterborough United in late April. Promotion was on the line. The stakes were sky-high. And Iwata was trusted to start, holding things together in midfield as Birmingham battled to a hard-fought 2-1 win. The result sealed their return to the Championship at the first time of asking—a remarkable achievement for a team that had been written off by many just months earlier.
For Iwata, that night was vindication. It was proof that he had made the right choice. He wasn’t just playing a part—he was making a difference. Birmingham’s fans, who had warmed to his tireless work ethic and calm presence, sang his name. He was no longer a peripheral figure; he was a promotion-winner, a leader.
But football, in its cruel way, always has another twist.
Just days after that triumphant night, Birmingham and Peterborough met again—this time in the Vertu Motors EFL Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium. It was a chance for Birmingham to cap off a memorable season with silverware, and for Iwata, the chance to lift a domestic cup as a starter and not just a squad member. With Tom Brady in attendance, excitement was at fever pitch. Birmingham entered the game as heavy favourites.
But the game didn’t follow the script.
Peterborough, still smarting from the promotion loss, came out with purpose. Darren Ferguson’s men were well-drilled, focused, and clinical. Harley Mills delivered the standout moment of the match with a sublime free-kick, and Birmingham—so composed and dominant just days earlier—looked rattled. Iwata, again trusted to start, did his best to control the midfield, but the tide had turned. When the final whistle blew, it was Peterborough celebrating under the Wembley arch. Birmingham, and Iwata, were left heartbroken.
It was Iwata’s first taste of defeat in a domestic final—a stark contrast to his time at Celtic. With the Hoops, he’d been part of a team that rarely lost finals. He was in the squad that lifted the Scottish Cup in 2024, when Adam Idah scored a dramatic late winner against Rangers. At Celtic, success was a standard. At Birmingham, it had to be earned the hard way.
The defeat will sting—Iwata is a player who takes pride in his performances, and who knows what it means to wear a winning jersey. But it doesn’t erase the progress he’s made. In fact, it may prove to be a turning point. Sometimes, it’s the heartbreaks that shape a player more than the triumphs.
Iwata’s story this season is one of growth. From fringe player at a top club to key contributor at a resurgent one, he has reinvented himself in the Championship’s proving ground. He’s traded guaranteed silverware for real responsibility, and he’s shown that he can handle it. The EFL Trophy final loss will serve as motivation—fuel for the next challenge.
With Birmingham now back in the Championship and looking to push on, Iwata finds himself in a unique position. He’s already a fan favourite. He’s experienced the highs and lows. He’s proved he can lead. And with Tom Brady and the board likely to invest again in the summer, the foundations are being laid for an ambitious push—not just for survival, but perhaps for a place in the Premier League over the next couple of seasons.
So, did Tomoki Iwata make the right move by leaving Celtic?
From the outside, it may seem like he walked away from glory. But what he’s actually done is bet on himself—and he’s winning. Iwata has gone from an overlooked option in a dominant team to an integral figure in a rebuilding one. His season has been one of triumph, heartbreak, and rebirth. And for a player still only in his late twenties, the future could hold even greater rewards.
In many ways, this season has been the making of Tomoki Iwata.
And Birmingham City—after years of decline—may just have found a quiet warrior to lead them into a brighter era.