Itakura, Ko
– Bor. Mönchengladbach
+ Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam has won the race to sign center back Ko Itakura from Borussia Mönchengladbach. Ajax will initially pay a base transfer fee of €10.5 million for the 28-year-old. This could rise to €12 million through bonuses. As the conditions attached to the bonuses are relatively low, Borussia will achieve its target of €12 million. The poker game for Itakura had recently picked up speed, with Feyenoord Rotterdam proving to be a particularly tough competitor and, according to kicker magazine, initially submitting an offer similar to that of Ajax. However, Ajax remained persistent, improved its offer, and thus made the agreement possible. The transfer of the 28-year-old has not yet been officially confirmed, but Itakura will not play in Gladbach’s friendly match in Brentford on Friday. Instead, he will undergo a medical examination in Amsterdam, after which the transfer is likely to be announced.
