【Player Profile #20】Itakura Ko | Ajax's First-Ever Japanese CB, 3.5 Years After the Germany-Upsetting Assist and Group F's Rematch
A deep dive into Itakura Ko (age 29, from Aoba Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa), the first Japanese player in Ajax Amsterdam history to wear the number 4 shirt. The long-ball specialist who assisted Asano Takuma's winning goal against Germany at the Qatar World Cup — can he conjure the same magic again in Group F?
Ko Itakura, 29 years old. The man who assisted Takuma Asano's historic winning goal against Germany at the 2022 Qatar World Cup completed a permanent transfer from Borussia Mönchengladbach to Ajax Amsterdam in August 2025. As the first Japanese player in Ajax history, he wears the number 4 shirt. In the 2025/26 season he made 14 league appearances and scored 1 goal, and supported a stunning comeback victory against Villarreal in his first-ever Champions League appearance as an Ajax player — though he has been sidelined with a back injury since February. With the 2026 World Cup just roughly two months away, we take stock of the expectations he carries and the challenges he must overcome.
menu_book Basic Profile
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 27, 1997 (age 29) |
| Hometown | Aoba Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Height / Weight | 188 cm / 80 kg |
| Position | DF (primarily CB / center of a back three / can also play as a defensive midfielder) |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Club | Ajax Amsterdam (Eredivisie / Netherlands) |
| Jersey Number | Club: 4 / National Team: 4 |
| International Experience | Japan debut 2019; 39 caps, 2 goals. Played every minute of all group-stage matches at the 2022 Qatar World Cup |
arrow_forward Getting to Know His Hometown
Aoba Ward in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture is a residential area spread along the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, known for its lush parks, public safety, and high standard of education. The ward is home to many youth soccer teams and elementary school soccer clubs, and the training grounds of J-League clubs such as Yokohama F. Marinos, Kawasaki Frontale, and Yokohama FC are all concentrated within a one-hour radius, forming what is known as the "Golden Triangle of Youth Development."
Young aspiring professionals can attend selection trials from junior age groups, meaning that with family support, access to top-level coaching environments is very much within reach. Itakura himself passed the Kawasaki Frontale U-12 selection trial in his fourth year of elementary school, launching a career that had him commuting to the Ikuta training ground. The soccer philosophy he developed growing up in Aoba — a symbol of the elite youth development route in the Kanto region — is now being expressed on the pitch in Amsterdam. His performances at the World Cup will be a source of immense pride for the city of Aoba.
calendar_month Career Timeline by Age
| Age | Period | Club / Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| 9–12 | 2006–2009 | Passed Kawasaki Frontale U-12 selection; participated in the Danone Nations Cup |
| 13–15 | 2010–2012 | Kawasaki Frontale U-15 |
| 16–18 | 2013–2015 | Kawasaki Frontale U-18. Served as captain |
| 18–20 | 2015–2018 | Kawasaki Frontale first team. Promoted alongside Koji Miyoshi; J1 debut August 2016 |
| 21 | 2018 | Vegalta Sendai (loan). Scored first J1 goal |
| 22–25 | 2019–2022 | Manchester City (parent club). No official appearances due to visa issues |
| 22–24 | 2019–2021 | FC Groningen (loan). Established himself as a key CB in the Eredivisie |
| 24–25 | 2021–2022 | Schalke 04 (loan). Contributed to second-division title and promotion to the top flight |
| 25–28 | 2022–2025 | Borussia Mönchengladbach (permanent). 80 official appearances |
| 28– | August 2025–present | Ajax. 4+1-year contract, transfer fee €10.5 million + €2 million in add-ons, jersey number 4. First Japanese player in Ajax history |
local_fire_department 2025/26 Season: Historic Ajax Debut and Back Injury Absence
Having completed his permanent transfer from Borussia Mönchengladbach to Ajax in August 2025, Itakura simultaneously made history as the first Japanese player ever to represent Ajax. Wearing the number 4 shirt, he scored his first goal for the club against Volendam on August 30 in the fourth matchday of the league. On October 17, he made his Champions League debut as an Ajax player against Inter Milan. In the sixth matchday of the CL group stage against Villarreal, he came on as a substitute in an anchor role and contributed to a courageous comeback victory.
However, Itakura has been sidelined with a back injury since February 2026, missing both the March international window and the April match against England for the national team. Although Ajax manager García mentioned in early April that his return was "closer than others," with the World Cup just two months away, regaining match sharpness has become an urgent priority.
| Season | Club | League Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22/23 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Regular | 5 |
| 23/24 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Key player | Multiple |
| 24/25 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 31 | 3 |
| 25/26 | Ajax | 14 | 1 |
sports_soccer International Career — Three and a Half Years On from the Germany Assist, to the Winning Goal Against China
Itakura made his international debut in June 2019 at the Copa América against Uruguay. He has since accumulated 39 caps and 2 goals.
At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, he played every minute of all group-stage matches. His moment in the 83rd minute against Germany — a long feed from deep in his own half that assisted Takuma Asano's historic winning goal — is still talked about to this day. He was also named in the group-stage "Best XI" by Spanish and Italian outlets.
In the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifying campaign, he was consistently deployed as the center of a back three. On November 19, 2024, against China, he headed home a diving header for the winning goal — his first international strike in three and a half years — helping Japan finish top of the qualifying group.
star Ko Itakura in a Word — "Precision Long Passing" and "Composure in One-on-One Defending," Combined
There are two key phrases essential to understanding Itakura.
| Keyword | How It Manifests in Play |
|---|---|
| Precision long passing | Side-switching passes and diagonal feeds from deep in his own half; distribution ability sufficient to play as a defensive midfielder |
| Composure in one-on-one defending | Aerial dominance using his 188 cm frame; tenacious ability to delay rather than dive in recklessly; unflappable composure and leadership even under pressure |
The significance of combining both is clear — creating chances by bypassing the midfield without compromising defensive solidity. As a point of differentiation from Yuki Ito and Takehiro Tomiyasu, Itakura's build-up ability is indispensable for the national team.
favorite Expectations at WC 2026 — The Key to Japan Breaking Out of Group F
Japan are in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. Itakura is expected to serve as the anchor of the back three — organizing the defensive line and acting as the launch pad for build-up play through his long passing.
| Opponent | Key FW Characteristics | Role Expected of Itakura |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Pacey forwards such as Depay, Harvie, and Frimpong, alongside tall strikers including Van de Ven | Leverage experience from his Ajax days to counter runs in behind and cut off vertical passes; act as a build-up outlet to bypass the press with long balls |
| Sweden | The fearsome strike partnership of Isak (Liverpool) and Gyökeres (Arsenal), combining aerial ability, pace, and physicality | Use his 188 cm aerial strength and one-on-one delaying skills; if playing a high line, guard the space in behind the defensive line at all costs |
| Tunisia | Organized and counter-attack oriented under new manager Rahmi; individual creativity from the likes of Khazri and Jebali | Organize set-piece defending; use build-up play from the back to break Tunisia's press |
live_tv Social Media & Media Presence
Itakura's communication style is calm and analytical. His Instagram @kouitakura open_in_new has approximately 275,000 followers, and his X (formerly Twitter) account @kougogo1270 open_in_new has around 105,000 followers. He has maintained both accounts since 2015.
His media persona is defined by a tendency to choose his words carefully and respond logically. He rarely shows emotion outwardly, and is known for calmly articulating his thought process — as seen in comments such as "The final qualifying round was always in my mind" (TV Tokyo Sports). As a tall, smart-image type of personality, he also makes event appearances as an official ambassador for DNS Protein.
info The Challenge to Overcome: Regaining Match Fitness After a Back Injury
Recovering from the back injury and regaining match sharpness — this is the single biggest challenge facing Itakura. He has been out for an extended period since February 2026 and also missed the April match against England. Although Ajax manager García said in early April that his return was "closer than others," how much match fitness he can recover before the tournament is the critical question.
Japan's CB options include Takehiro Tomiyasu, Yuki Ito, Shogo Taniguchi, and Koki Takai, all of whom have been building their credentials during Itakura's absence. His standing as an undisputed starter — cemented by that iconic assist against Germany — now hinges on whether he can return to competitive action at the Kirin Challenge Cup match against Iceland on May 31.