The transfer surprise of the summer so far is perfect: Hiroki Ito is moving from VfB Stuttgart to FC Bayern. The record champions are exercising the purchase option on the 25-year-old defender for a reported 30 million euros and are giving Ito a contract until 2028.
With the 19-time Japanese international, Bayern have brought a left-footer into the squad who can play both as a central defender and as a left wing-back. At VfB, Ito was needed in both positions. Last season, he initially played mostly at left back, but then moved inside as the season progressed because Dan-Axel Zagadou was injured and Maximilian Mittelstädt was convincing as a left back.
For VfB, Ito is the second most expensive sale in the club's history – on a par with Mario Gomez. Only Benjamin Pavard (35 million euros) brought in a higher transfer fee. All three moved from Stuttgart to Munich.
According to consistent reports, the transfer of Ito does not mean that Bayern have given up on their pursuit of Jonathan Tah. The German international is still said to be coming from Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern Sports Director Max Eberl: “We are delighted that we have signed Hiroki Ito for FC Bayern. We want hungry players who bring new energy, and Hiroki has everything we want: He is a player who accepts challenges, overcomes them and continually makes his way. At 25 years old, he has already gained a lot of experience and can handle pressure, whether in a relegation match or with a chance of making it to the Champions League. He will immediately be a real reinforcement for us.”
Bayern sports director Christoph Freund: “Hiroki Ito was reliability personified at VfB Stuttgart: He consistently delivered top-level performances and thus came to the attention of some top international clubs. Hiroki is tall, aggressive, has a strong left foot, an excellent passing game and is versatile in defense because he can play on the left or centrally. He came to Germany as a young player, has developed superbly and we are sure that he still has further potential.”
Hiroki Ito: “It is a great honour for me to be able to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world. The name FC Bayern also has a good reputation in Japan. I always gave my all at VfB Stuttgart and am grateful to the club. Now I am looking forward to the challenge in Munich and want to do my part to ensure that FC Bayern wins many titles. It was time to take a new step, and for me FC Bayern is the perfect club for that.”
“I will always have fond memories of my time at VfB. Stuttgart was my first stop in Europe, where I gained important experience and developed into a national player. For that, I am very grateful to everyone in charge, the coaches, my teammates and of course the fans. Saying goodbye is not easy for me, but at the same time I am looking forward to the new challenge. I wish VfB and its great fans all the best for the future.”
VfB sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth: “We regret Hiroki's decision because he has been a fixture in our team over the past few years. It was our clear wish to continue to see Hiroki in the VfB jersey and to tackle the challenges of the coming season together with him. We thank Hiroki for his commitment to VfB and wish him all the best for the future.”
