Tomoki Iwata, born in Oita, Japan on 7 April 1997 (age 29), is a Japanese defensive midfielder now with Birmingham City. His senior career took shape at Oita Trinita, where his 2019 league season – 27 appearances and four goals – remains his most productive in front of goal.
From there, Iwata moved on to Yokohama F. Marinos before Celtic brought him to Glasgow in January 2023. He was not the sort of signing built for noise, which was probably just as well. His value was in his discipline, positioning and ability to keep the ball moving without demanding much attention.
His time at Celtic brought two Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup. He left in August 2024, joining Birmingham City for around £830,000. It was a tidy enough exit for a player who had contributed to winning squads without ever becoming a central figure.
At Birmingham, wearing squad number 24, he has remained a central midfield option. In 2026-27 he has made eight Championship appearances, along with one in the FA Cup and two in the League Cup, taking him to 11 appearances for the club across all competitions. His market value is around £2m, according to Transfermarkt.
Iwata’s career has moved from Oita to Yokohama, then Celtic and Birmingham: a steady professional path for a midfielder whose game has generally been based on structure rather than spectacle.
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