Davies admits Birmingham City star is likely to leave the club.

Birmingham City midfielder Tomoki Iwata could be approaching his final season at the club, with manager Chris Davies admitting that family circumstances may eventually influence the Japan international to return to his homeland.

Iwata has established himself as an important member of the Birmingham squad and remains central to Davies’ plans. However, the manager has acknowledged that the midfielder’s long-term future could be shaped by the needs of his young family, with Japan potentially becoming the preferred destination.

Davies explained that the club had already discussed the situation with Iwata last season. The club made clear how highly they value his contribution.

“We spoke to him last season – ‘You’ve been fantastic, we think the world of you’ – but he’s got a young family,” Davies said.

The Birmingham manager indicated that Iwata now has three children, making family circumstances an important consideration.

Davies used a humorous description of Iwata’s family situation, suggesting that he now has an “overloading midfield” at home with three children compared with two adults. Behind the light-hearted comment, however, was a serious point: Iwata’s family may ultimately have a strong reason to return to Japan.

“He’s got an overloading midfield now, three vs two, and I think their future is back home in Japan,” Davies said.

Iwata is comfortable with the situation, and no immediate departure is planned. Davies explained that the two sides have not pushed the conversation any further since their initial discussions.

According to the Birmingham boss, both he and Iwata are content with the current arrangement. For supporters, that provides reassurance for now, despite the uncertainty surrounding his longer-term plans ahead. That means the midfielder can remain focused on helping Birmingham this season while the club and player continue to assess what might happen beyond the campaign.

For now, Davies has made it clear that there is no question about Iwata’s importance to the team. The manager told him at the beginning of the season that he would remain at Birmingham and would play a significant role in their plans.

“What I said to him at the start of the season is you’re going nowhere, you’re an absolutely critical player, you’re going to be a critical player this season,” Davies explained.

That message underlines just how highly Birmingham value the midfielder. Despite the possibility of a future return to Japan, Iwata is not being treated as someone whose departure is imminent. Instead, Davies expects him to remain fully involved and make an important contribution throughout the current campaign.

The manager also stressed that the situation remains open and that no definitive decision has been reached regarding Iwata’s future. Birmingham are not rushing to determine what happens next, and Davies appears comfortable allowing events to develop naturally over the coming months.

“We are relaxed, open-minded,” Davies said.

The club will therefore continue monitoring the situation while maintaining regular communication with the midfielder. Davies revealed that he and Iwata speak frequently about the issue, suggesting that the player’s wishes and circumstances will remain an important part of any future decision.

“We are in regular contact, me and him, about it and we’ll see how the next few months go,” Davies added.

There is also a possibility that Iwata could ultimately decide to remain in England. Davies has not ruled out that outcome and believes the midfielder’s thinking could change if Birmingham enjoy a successful season.

“You never know, he might change his mind if things start going really well,” the manager said.

That comment leaves the door open for Birmingham supporters to hope that Iwata’s time at St Andrew’s could continue beyond the current campaign. While family considerations may eventually make a return to Japan the most attractive option, success on the pitch could potentially influence his decision.

Iwata’s importance to Birmingham means his future will naturally be a subject of interest for supporters. The midfielder has earned the trust of Davies, who sees him as a vital component of the team and has no intention of allowing uncertainty over his long-term plans to affect his current responsibilities.

For Birmingham, the immediate priority is therefore straightforward: keep Iwata focused on the season ahead and benefit from his performances while he remains at the club. Any discussion about a potential departure can wait until later.

For the player, meanwhile, the decision is likely to involve more than football. His growing family means personal considerations could carry significant weight when the time comes to choose where his future should lie.

At present, there is no final verdict. Iwata is committed to Birmingham’s current campaign, Davies remains supportive, and both sides are prepared to continue their conversations. But with the possibility of a return to Japan already acknowledged, Birmingham fans may have to consider that this season could be the midfielder’s last in the West Midlands.