FC Bayern has had a bad season – partly because of problems in defense. Now the Munich team has signed a strong defender from Stuttgart.
FC Bayern has completed its first major transfer for the new season and signed defender Hiroki Ito from VfB Stuttgart. This was announced by the German record champions and the Swabians. The 25-year-old Japanese is making use of an exit clause. Ito actually had a contract with VfB until June 2027. The national player has now signed in Munich until 2028. The “Bild” newspaper, among others, had previously reported on the impending deal.
“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,” said Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl. The new defender will “immediately be a real reinforcement for us.”
VfB expects high revenues
The exact amount of the transfer fee was not officially communicated at first. However, according to reports, Stuttgart could earn almost up to 30 million euros. At least financially, the transfer is a good deal for the Swabians: Ito was initially signed on loan from Jubilo Iwata in 2021 and then permanently a year later and reportedly cost VfB a total of significantly less than a million euros in transfer fees.
Last season, the Japanese player was a key player in Stuttgart’s defense and only missed nine competitive matches due to a muscle injury and being called up for the Asian Cup. In the other matches, he was a regular player, either in central defense or on the left side of defense, except for one.
Bayern’s defensive stabilizer after a botched season?
After a disappointing season without a title, the Munich team is looking for more stability in defense. Dayot Upamecano and Minjae Kim in particular repeatedly messed up in the 2023/24 season and lost their regular places in the season finale to Matthijs De Ligt and Eric Dier, who was actually only brought in as a substitute.
Ito is unlikely to be the only new defensive signing for FC Bayern under new coach Vincent Kompany. According to media reports, the former serial champion has agreed on a shared future with German international Jonathan Tah. The 28-year-old is said to have already informed his previous club, Bayer Leverkusen, of his desire to move.
Source: Stern
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