Greg . 1 day ago

Borussia Monchengladbach and Ajax 'reach agreement' over Ko Itakura transfer

Ajax and Borussia Monchengladbach have reportedly reached an agreement for the transfer of Japanese defender Ko Itakura.

Several Dutch sources, including Voetbal International and De Telegraaf, report on Monday that Ajax will pay Gladbach a transfer fee of around €10 million, which could rise via bonuses.

The first offer of the Amsterdam club reportedly obtained rejected by Borussia Monchengladbach, who were also in contact with Feyenoord, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Fiorentina over Itakura.

Ajax have reportedly planned Itakura's medical exam for Friday and want to finalise the signing on Saturday, one day before the Amsterdam giants open their Eredivisie season against Telstar.

The 28-year-old Itakura will sign a four-year contract in Amsterdam, where he's anticipated to create a centre-support partnership with Croatian international Josip Sutalo.

Ajax have an option to lengthen Itakura's contract by one more year.

Itakura will not be the direct replacement of Jorrel Hato, who left the club for Chelsea for €44 million.

The Amsterdam club will reportedly continue their search for a new left-support.

Ajax and Itakura in talks for monthsItakura possessed reached a personal agreement with Ajax, who were in talks with the defender for "months", long before the clubs struck a manage for the Japanese centre-half, whose contract in Germany was due to expire in 2026.

Ko Itakura's recent statisticsBetopickItakura reportedly met with Marijn Beuker, Ajax's director of football, in June around the World Cup qualifier between Japan and Indonesia.

Beuker was in Japan to visit partner club Gamba Osaka.

The 28-time Japanese international joined Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach in 2022 from Manchester City, where Itakura never played a game.

The right-footed defender was loaned out to FC Groningen for two seasons before joining Schalke 04 on loan in 2021.

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