Ko Itakura is about to sign with Schalke 04, various German media report. The 24-year-old center defender of Manchester City, who impressed FC Groningen on a rental basis in the past two years, will first be loaned out for a season. Schalke then has the option to acquire the Japanese for only four million euros.
Itakura was picked up by Manchester City two years ago for 1.1 million euros from Kawasaki Frontale of his native country. The mandekker was immediately sent to FC Groningen on a rental basis and he immediately conquered a basic place there. After the aborted 2019/20 season, Manchester City allowed Itakura to play at Groningen for another year.
He was one of the pillars of Danny Buijs’s team, which performed well last year and finished seventh in the Eredivisie. Lost in the semi-finals of the play-offs to a European ticket the pride of the north from FC Utrecht. Itakura played a total of 59 matches for FC Groningen, in which he accounted for 1 goal and 1 assist. He has five caps to his name.
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