Ajax, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Ko Itakura have reached an agreement on the transfer of the defender to Ajax.
The 28-year-old Japanese international has signed a four-year contract, running until June 30, 2029. The agreement includes an option for another year. In Germany, his contract had been due to run until June 30, 2026.
Itakura was born on January 27, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan. In his home country, he progressed through the youth academy of Kawasaki Frontale, where he also made his professional debut. He also played for Vegalta Sendai before signing for Manchester City in 2019. The Premier League club subsequently loaned Itakura to FC Groningen and Schalke 04. In the summer of 2022, he made the move to Borussia Mönchengladbach, the club for which he has been active for the past three seasons.
Alex Kroes: "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."