Tomoki Iwata, born on 7 April 1997, hails from Japan and currently plies his trade as a central defensive midfielder for Birmingham City. He cuts an imposing figure at 5ft 10in (1.78m) and boasts a sturdy weight of 12st 1lb (77kg). He is easily recognisable on the pitch, wearing the number 24 jersey.
According to Transfermarkt, Iwata's current market value is estimated at around £1.32m. As per his contract with Birmingham City, he still has 1 year and 11 months of service to offer, with it set to expire on 30 June 2027.
Iwata first donned the boots of Oita Trinita in the J2 League in Japan back in January 2015. His debut season in 2017 saw him making nine first team appearances in league matches. An upward trajectory in his career was evident with 27 first team appearances and four goals in the bag in the 2019 season. This was followed by another commendable performance in the 2020 season, where he made 30 first team appearances and scored two goals.
January 2021 saw Iwata transferring from Oita Trinita to Yokohama F. Marinos in the J1 League in Japan for an undisclosed fee. His stint at Yokohama F. Marinos witnessed him making 34 first team appearances in league matches in the 2021 season. He retained an impressive presence in the 2022 season with 32 first team appearances and two goals to his name.
Opportunity knocked from the Scottish Premiership in January 2023 and Iwata transferred from Yokohama F. Marinos to Celtic on loan. Iwata's time at Celtic proved fruitful; in the 2022 - 2023 season, he made 13 first team appearances in league matches and followed it up with 19 first team appearances and a goal in the 2023 - 2024 season.
His performance was well received and in July 2023, he made a permanent transfer from Yokohama F. Marinos to Celtic for an undisclosed fee. The following seasons mirrored his previous form; in the 2022 -2023 season he again made 13 first team appearances, and in the 2023 - 2024 season Iwata made 19 appearances with one goal to boot.
In August 2024, Iwata embarked on a new journey, as he transferred from Celtic to Birmingham City in the Championship in England for a fee of around £830,000. Up until the current season of 2025 - 2026, Iwata has made a duo of first team appearances in league matches for Birmingham City.
Notably, Iwata has also participated in the FA Cup 2024 - 2025 for Birmingham, where he scored one goal in one start. He also featured in the EFL Trophy 2024 - 2025 for Birmingham City, scoring one goal in four starts and made an appearance as a substitute. Despite not being a part of Celtic anymore, Iwata's impact and legacy at the club still remain palpable today.
