Borussia Mönchengladbach sign Japanese defender Ko Itakura from Ajax
Quick summary
Borussia Mönchengladbach have completed the signing of Japanese centre-back Ko Itakura from Ajax on a contract running through 2029.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceItakura , who played 80 times for the Foals across all competitions between 2022 and 2025, has put pen to paper on a four-year deal through to 2030.
“We were already considering bringing Ko Itakura back to Borussia over the winter,” said Gladbach’s head of sport Rouven Schröder. “We are delighted to have signed a player that brings exactly the experience and quality that we were looking for following Nico Elvedi’s departure .
“The fact that we found all that in someone who is already familiar with the club and will need hardly any time to settle in, in addition to being really keen on coming back, just rounds everything off.”
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What happened
Borussia Mönchengladbach have reinforced their defence with the acquisition of Ko Itakura from Ajax. The 28-year-old Japanese international centre-back has signed a contract that runs until 2029. Itakura previously played in the Bundesliga for Schalke 04 and Freiburg, and won the Eredivisie title with Ajax last season. His return to German football is expected to provide Gladbach with a reliable, ball-playing defender as they aim to climb the Bundesliga table.
Chance analysis
Gladbach are making a clear statement about their defensive identity by bringing in Ko Itakura, a defender who already knows the Bundesliga from his Schalke and Freiburg spells and arrives as a recent Eredivisie champion. For Ajax, the departure trims a squad that lost key figures and signals a continued reshaping under their current sporting project. Itakura's ball-playing profile should suit a Gladbach side that likes to build from the back, giving manager Gerardo Seoane a more composed option at the heart of the defence.
Gladbach gain an experienced Bundesliga-proven centre-back to strengthen their back line, while Ajax lose depth and experience in central defence.