From Kanagawa to Stockholm via Tokyo, Japanese fullback Keita Kosugi has quietly made a name for himself in Scandinavian football. After joining Djurgårdens IF from Shonan Bellmare in early 2024, the 19-year-old has shown rapid development in the Allsvenskan. Now, Celtic FC are reportedly monitoring his progress — and with good reason. Tactically mature, technically assured, and stylistically well-suited to Brendan Rodgers’ setup, Kosugi could be a savvy long-term investment for the Scottish champions.
Background
Born on 18 March 2006, Keita Kosugi came through the ranks of Shonan Bellmare — a club known for producing technically refined, tactically disciplined talents. Still only 19, he made the move to Europe in early 2024, joining Swedish club Djurgårdens IF as part of a long-term development strategy. Despite his age, he has already earned significant Allsvenskan minutes, impressing with his maturity, composure in possession, and adaptability across defensive roles.
Rather than needing time to adjust, Kosugi hit the ground running. Within months, he had earned regular minutes in the Allsvenskan and attracted attention for his mature performances in possession and his adaptability across different tactical roles. Though still relatively early in his senior career, Kosugi’s profile has already started to stand out to clubs in possession-oriented leagues.
Player Profile: Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Kosugi is a fullback built for the modern game: technically secure, tactically flexible, and comfortable playing in both wide and inverted roles. Standing at 1.72m, he relies more on agility, tempo control, and spatial awareness than on physicality. On the ball, he plays with calm precision — rarely rushed, and always available for short combinations during build-up. He frequently acts as a wall-pass option or initiates progressive sequences with smart first touches and intelligent body orientation.
In possession, Kosugi has shown the ability to invert into midfield zones, playing almost as an additional central midfielder in build-up phases. His awareness of positioning and rhythm allows him to contribute to central overloads and receive under pressure. This mirrors the role Celtic’s inverted fullbacks have under Rodgers, as they regularly step into central lanes to support ball progression and circulation.
His passing range also adds value. He can thread vertical passes into midfielders, clip lofted diagonals into advanced runners, and switch the play when needed.
In transition, he accelerates play with direct and purposeful passes — a trait that would complement Celtic’s need for fullbacks who can initiate attacks, not just support them.
Defensively, Kosugi brings intensity and sharp reactions. He’s agile in one-on-one situations, particularly against quick or skillful wingers, and recovers well when the ball is lost. He reads transitional moments effectively and is often among the first players to apply counterpressure after possession turnovers.
Weaknesses:
Physically, Kosugi remains a work in progress. His small frame and lack of upper-body strength make him vulnerable in shoulder-to-shoulder duels, and he struggles in aerial battles — particularly when defending deep crosses. While these flaws are less pronounced in a possession-dominant side like Celtic domestically, they could be exposed in European competition.
His attacking contributions also lack consistency. Though he’s capable of overlapping and reaching advanced positions, his final ball can be erratic. Too often, crosses are overhit or delivered under minimal pressure with poor execution. Improving his delivery in the final third — particularly with his weaker foot — will be key to unlocking his full potential as a dynamic offensive fullback.
Fit at Celtic
Celtic’s current tactical setup, usually a 4-3-3 structure in possession, emphasizes dominance through the central zones. Fullbacks are expected to invert into midfield and support build-up and ball progression.
Kosugi naturally fits in this system. He profiles similarly to Greg Taylor in terms of role, but with a higher technical ceiling and greater potential for vertical impact. His comfort in tight spaces, awareness in central build-up, and clean passing under pressure align with what Rodgers asks from his fullbacks — particularly against low-blocks where patience and precision are essential.
That said, Kosugi is still early in his European journey. With just one full season in Sweden under his belt, it may be premature to expect him to immediately handle the physical demands and pressure of Celtic’s domestic and European schedule. A rotational role — sharing minutes with a more experienced option — would likely be the best pathway forward, allowing him to adjust to the rhythm and intensity of the SPFL while continuing to develop.
In European competition, his press resistance and tactical intelligence could offer Celtic added flexibility, especially in matches where controlled possession and counterpressing are vital.
Conclusion
Kosugi is not the finished product — but he is a player with significant long-term upside. His technical base, positional intelligence, and calmness in possession make him a strong candidate for a system like Celtic’s. While his lack of physicality and inconsistent final ball mean he isn’t ready to dominate at the highest level yet, these are areas that can improve with targeted coaching and experience.
If Celtic can acquire him at a reasonable fee, Keita Kosugi represents a low-risk, high-upside investment. With the right development and gradual integration into the first team, he could emerge as the next in a growing line of Japanese players to succeed in Europe.
This scouting report is written by Harry Kruusval, a Swedish football scout and part of the 360 Scouting team.