Overview
- Borussia Mönchengladbach on Thursday completed the signing of Ko Itakura on a contract through 2030, officially naming him the successor to Nico Elvedi.
- Sky and club reports put the fee at an initial €3.5 million with add-ons taking it to roughly €4 million, a markedly lower price than the €10.5 million Ajax paid Gladbach in 2025.
- Sporting directors framed the move as a quick, low-friction fix because Itakura already knows the squad, coaching staff and local community and can pair with Kevin Diks in central defence.
- Coverage highlights two availability risks: a run of muscular and back injuries over the past year and a likely call-up to Japan for the Asia Cup that could sideline him for several league matches.
- The transfer underlines Gladbach sport chief Rouven Schröder’s roster management approach and increases chances for young defenders such as Jan Leszczynski to see first-team minutes if Itakura is unavailable.