Dutch Eredivisie club, AFC Ajax, German Bundesliga club, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Ko Itakura have reached an agreement on the transfer of the defender to Ajax.
The 28-year-old Japanese international has put pen to paper on a four-year contract, that will exist until June 30, 2029. The agreement encompasses an option for another year. In Germany, his contract had been due to expire on June 30, 2026.
Itakura was born on January 27, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan.
In his home country, he scaled through the youth academy of Kawasaki Frontale, where he also recorded his professional debut. He also featured for Vegalta Sendai before moving to English side, Manchester City, in 2019. Subsequently, the Premier League outfit loaned Itakura to FC Groningen and Schalke 04.
In the summer of 2022, he joined German top flight side, Borussia Mönchengladbach, the club for which he has been active for the past three seasons.
According to Ajax official website, Technical Director of AFC Ajax, Alex Kroes, said: “We’re delighted that Ko has signed his contract with Ajax. It’s a deal we’ve worked on carefully for some time. He becomes the first Japanese player in our club’s history, which is a special milestone.
“Ko brings the experience and stability we need in our backline. He’s strong in duels, comfortable on the ball, and tactically intelligent. With his mentality and leadership, he can also play an important role in guiding the team.
“We’re looking forward to seeing him in the Ajax shirt.”
Photo: AFC Ajax new addition, Ko Itakura. | AFC Ajax
