Background and career
Ko Itakura (板倉 滉, Itakura Kō; born 27 January 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach and captains the Japan national team.
Known for his ball-playing ability, versatility, and defensive anticipation, Itakura began his career in the J1 League with Kawasaki Frontale before moving to Europe in 2019. After successful loan spells at Groningen and Schalke 04, he joined Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2022 and established himself in the Bundesliga with the club. In 2025, he became the first Japanese player in history to sign for Ajax, and returned to Mönchengladbach a year later.
