“Birmingham City’s Premier League Dream: Iwata’s £27m Master Plan”

Tomoki Iwata has set his sights firmly on reaching the Premier League with Birmingham City.

Japanese midfielder Iwata, who has won four caps for his country, joined Blues from Celtic at the end of the summer transfer window. Blues manager Chris Davies pushed hard to sign Iwata throughout the window before eventually securing his signature.

The 27-year-old has lived up to his billing with a couple of decent performances at the beginning of his Blues career. Iwata impressed on his debut against Walsall in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy before marking his League One bow with a stunning goal against Wrexham.

Blues are well placed to seal an immediate return to the Championship and Iwata, who penned a three-year contract, is already eyeing another promotion.

Asked for his targets, Iwata sang from the same hymn sheet as Tom Wagner, Garry Cook, Davies and Co when he said: “Only one thing, promotion to the Premier League.”

He added: “This is why I came here. I will devote everything I have to Blues, for Birmingham accounts for a big part of my heart. I will do everything I can for the team to win. I am thinking about nothing but going to the Premier League.”