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Itakura heads back to Gladbach from Ajax in confirmed summer switch
The Japan international defender rejoins Borussia Mönchengladbach on a transfer from Ajax, swapping Amsterdam for the Rhineland in a deal announced on 19 August 2026.
Ko Itakura is on the move again, the Japan international defender completing a transfer from Ajax to Borussia Mönchengladbach on 19 August 2026. The 28-year-old, who wears the number four shirt, returns to the Bundesliga outfit having previously spent time in Germany, and does so after a season in which he logged 28 Eredivisie and European appearances for Ajax.
At a glance
- Age: 28 (born 27 January 1997, Yokohama, Japan)
- Position: Defender | Deal: Permanent Transfer | Date: 19 August 2026
- Clubs: Ajax → Borussia Mönchengladbach
Career context
Itakura's route to this latest move has been thoroughly international. He began his senior career in Japan with Kawasaki Frontale and Vegalta Sendai before a January 2019 switch to Manchester City for €1.1M, where he was immediately loaned to Groningen for the remainder of that season. A loan spell at FC Schalke 04 in 2021 preceded a permanent €5M move to Borussia Mönchengladbach in July 2022. After helping Gladbach secure a 2. Bundesliga title in 2021/22, he departed for Ajax in August 2025, and now makes the reverse journey back to Mönchengladbach.
His trophy cabinet reflects a peripatetic but decorated path: J1 League champion with Kawasaki Frontale in 2017, 2. Bundesliga winner with Gladbach in 2021/22, and an Emperor Cup runners-up finish with the Japanese national side in 2018. The Kirin Cup silver medal (2022) and Asian Games runners-up (2018) underline his standing in international football.
How he fits at his new club
A right-footed defender standing 188cm tall and weighing 80kg, Itakura brings a profile well-suited to the physical and positional demands of Bundesliga defending. His API-Football attributes grade him at 56 for defence and 95 for duels, suggesting a player who thrives in one-on-one situations and aerial challenges. At Ajax in 2025 he averaged a 6.99 rating across 19 Eredivisie starts, completing 925 passes at 92% accuracy and winning 61 of 101 duels.
Returning to Borussia Mönchengladbach, who play their home fixtures at BORUSSIA-PARK (capacity 54,057), Itakura will likely slot into a back line that values defensive solidity and build-up play. His 1369 passes completed over 28 matches last season demonstrate comfort on the ball, and his four dribbles won from seven attempts show he can carry play forward when required. The 23 interceptions and 19 blocks he registered speak to an active, reading-the-game defender.
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
Recent numbers
Last season (2025) across all competitions, Itakura recorded:
- 28 appearances (24 starts, 4 substitute entries)
- 2,065 minutes on the pitch
- 1 goal, 0 assists
- 158 duels contested, 87 won (55% success rate)
- 29 tackles, 23 interceptions, 19 blocks
- 1,369 passes at 92% accuracy
- 4 yellow cards, 0 red cards
- Overall rating: 6.82
Breaking that down by competition:
| Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eredivisie | 19 | 1,379 | 1 | 6.99 |
| Champions League | 6 | 455 | 0 | 6.40 |
| KNVB Beker | 1 | 81 | 0 | 5.90 |
| Friendlies | 2 | 150 | 0 | 6.90 |
His most recent performances came during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and finals, where he represented Japan. In the June 2026 World Cup group stage, Itakura played the full 90 minutes against Tunisia, earning an assist and a 7.9 rating in a 4-0 victory. He also captained Japan in their group-stage draw with Sweden, completing 89 passes at 85% accuracy and winning 3 of 5 duels.
Key takeaways
- Experience across three leagues: Itakura has proven himself in the J1 League, Eredivisie, and Bundesliga, bringing tactical versatility to Borussia Mönchengladbach's defence.
- Set-piece threat: Despite being a defender, his single goal last season came from open play, and his attacking attribute rating of 9 suggests he offers an outlet on set pieces.
- Durability concerns: The player's injury record shows recurring ankle and calf issues, with four separate ankle/calf problems since 2022, plus a back injury and viral illness in 2025.
- Defensive reliability: With 19 blocks and 23 interceptions in 28 games last season, he ranked among Ajax's most active defenders in terms of last-ditch interventions.
- Return to familiar territory: Having previously won the 2. Bundesliga with Gladbach in 2022, Itakura returns knowing the club's methods and the demands of German football.
- Leadership potential: His captaincy for Japan in the Sweden match suggests he can provide vocal leadership at BORUSSIA-PARK.
Itakura's transfer to Borussia Mönchengladbach represents a reunion with a club where he previously found success, and his statistical profile suggests he will add defensive experience and composure to the back line as they push for Bundesliga survival and European contention.