Football: German powerhouse Bayern Munich sign Japan defender ...
German football giants Bayern Munich on Thursday announced the signing of Japan defender Hiroki Ito on a full transfer from fellow Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart.
Ito, 25, has inked a four-year contract with the record 32-time German champions, who are reported to have paid a transfer fee in excess of 23 million euro (3.9 billion yen).
The Shizuoka Prefecture native, primarily a central defender who can also play left-back and defensive midfield, has 19 caps and one goal for the Samurai Blue.
Hiroki Ito is seen in action for Japan during a second-round qualifier for the 2026 World Cup against Syria in Hiroshima on June 11, 2024. (Kyodo)
He joined Stuttgart in the summer of 2021 on loan from Jubilo Iwata, then in the Japanese second division. He made a full transfer the following year and was instrumental in the club's rise to second place in the Bundesliga in the most recent season.
Bayern's streak of 11 straight top-flight championships came to an end at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season and the club aims to return to glory under their new manager, former Belgium international Vincent Kompany.
"It's a great honor for me to be able to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world," Ito said in a statement from Bayern.
"I always gave my all for VfB Stuttgart and am grateful to the club. Now I'm looking forward to the challenge in Munich and I want to play my part in FC Bayern winning lots of trophies."
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