Bayern Munich has signed Japanese defender Hiroki Ito from German rivals VfB Stuttgart in a move aimed at bringing “new energy” that could begin a major overhaul of the Bayern team.
Ito has joined on a four-year contract, Bayern said on Thursday. He is Bayern’s first new signing since Vincent Kompany took over as coach last month in place of Thomas Tuchel.
“We want a hungry player who brings new energy and Hiroki has everything we want: a player who accepts challenges, overcomes them and keeps moving forward,” Max Eberl, a member of Bayern’s sporting board, said in a statement. said.
The transfer fee was not disclosed, but German magazine Kicker reported that Bayern met his release clause for an initial 23 million euros ($25 million) plus additional fees.
Ito, 25, has been at Stuttgart since 2021 and was key to their surprise second-place finish in the Bundesliga this season. Stuttgart are one place ahead of Bayern, who finished the season without a trophy for the first time since 2011-12.
Ito adds depth to a Bayern defense that was frequently depleted by injury last season and often relied on Eric Dier, who left at the end of his loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur. Ito typically plays in the center of the defense, but can also play in defensive midfielder and left-back roles.
Bayern also signed 18-year-old Australian winger Nestor Irankunda in a deal agreed in November but effective from next month. Spanish winger Brian Zaragoza’s move to Granada has become permanent after an initial loan spell at Bayern.
Bundesliga runaway team Bayer Leverkusen also made a deal on Thursday, signing Girona’s Alex Garcia, who was key to the team’s third-place finish in La Liga last season.
Garcia, 26, signed a five-year contract with Leverkusen, where he joined Spanish coach Xabi Alonso.
Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen’s sporting managing director, said: “Aleix García is a player with outstanding strategic ability. His passes are very accurate and he plays with great vision, even in defensive midfield.”
