Bayern Munich have signed Japan defender Hiroki Ito from Germán rival VfB Stuttgart in a transfer aimed toward bringing in “new power” which may begin a wider overhaul of Bayern’s squad.
Ito joins on a four-year contract, Bayern stated Thursday. He’s the primary new signing for Bayern since Vincent Kompany was employed as coach final month rather than Thomas Tuchel.
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“We would like hungry gamers who usher in new power and Hiroki has every little thing we want for: he’s a participant who takes on challenges, overcomes them and retains pushing ahead,” Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl stated in a press release.
The switch payment wasn’t made public however German journal Kicker reported Bayern had met a launch clause for an preliminary €23 million ($25 million) plus doable add-on charges.
The 25-year-old Ito had been with Stuttgart since 2021 and was key to their shock run to second within the Bundesliga this season. Stuttgart completed one place forward of Bayern, who ended the marketing campaign and not using a trophy for the primary time because the 2011-12 season.
Ito provides depth to a Bayern protection that was often depleted by accidents final season and infrequently relied on Eric Dier, who has since left when his mortgage from Tottenham Hotspur ended. Ito sometimes performs within the middle of protection, however may also cowl defensive midfield and left-back roles.
Bayern are additionally signing the 18-year-old Australian winger Nestory Irankunda in a deal that was agreed in November, however solely takes impact subsequent month. Spanish winger Bryan Zaragoza’s switch from Granada has turn out to be everlasting after an preliminary mortgage spell at Bayern.
Bayer Leverkusen, the staff that ran away with the Bundesliga, additionally did enterprise on Thursday, signing Aleix Garcia from Girona the place he was key to his staff’s third-place end in LaLiga final season.
The 26-year-old García signed a five-year contract with Leverkusen, the place he joins up with Spanish coach Xabi Alonso.
“Aleix García is a participant with excellent strategic capability, his passing is extraordinarily correct and he performs with nice imaginative and prescient from holding midfield,” Leverkusen sporting managing director Simon Rolfes stated.
