Ajax complete signing of Ko Itakura | OneFootball

Ajax have officially signed Japanese international defender Ko Itakura from Borussia Mönchengladbach. The 28-year-old has agreed to a four-year contract with Ajax, keeping him at the Dutch club until June 30, 2029, with an option for an additional year.

Itakura, born in Yokohama, Japan, began his professional career at Kawasaki Frontale and later played for Vegalta Sendai before moving to Manchester City in 2019. While contracted to City, he was loaned to FC Groningen and Schalke 04. In 2022, he transferred to Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he has played for the past three seasons.

Ajax technical director Alex Kroes commented on the signing: “We are delighted to welcome Ko to Ajax. He is the club’s first-ever Japanese player, marking a special milestone. Ko brings valuable experience and leadership to our defence. He is strong in duels, tactically intelligent, and comfortable on the ball. His mentality will be an asset as he helps guide the team.”

This move sees Itakura return to the Eredivisie, a league in which he has previous experience.

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