26 days ago
Freiburg were firmly in control at the break against Borussia Mönchengladbach after first-half goals from Yannik Engelhardt and Igor Matanovic.
Matanovic caused Gladbach problems almost immediately, dispossessing Ko Itakura, before having an opportunity to release Yuito Suzuki inside the opening minutes, only to struggle to get the ball out of his feet.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 23rd minute, when Derry Scherhant's corner found Engelhardt, whose looping header caught Moritz Nicolas in no man's land and dropped into the net.
Six minutes later, Freiburg doubled their advantage, with Matthias Ginter firing a sharp pass towards Matanovic on the edge of the penalty area and, with plenty of pace already on the ball, the striker simply guided it beyond Nicolas and in off the post.
At that point, Gladbach were in danger of being overwhelmed as Freiburg threatened to turn an already commanding first half into a rout.
#freiburg #engelhardt #nicolas
Matanovic caused Gladbach problems almost immediately, dispossessing Ko Itakura, before having an opportunity to release Yuito Suzuki inside the opening minutes, only to struggle to get the ball out of his feet.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 23rd minute, when Derry Scherhant's corner found Engelhardt, whose looping header caught Moritz Nicolas in no man's land and dropped into the net.
Six minutes later, Freiburg doubled their advantage, with Matthias Ginter firing a sharp pass towards Matanovic on the edge of the penalty area and, with plenty of pace already on the ball, the striker simply guided it beyond Nicolas and in off the post.
At that point, Gladbach were in danger of being overwhelmed as Freiburg threatened to turn an already commanding first half into a rout.
#freiburg #engelhardt #nicolas
2 months ago
Borussia Mönchengladbach have officially confirmed the return of ****** anese international Ko Itakura from Ajax. The 29-year-old centre-back signs a contract through 2030 after spending just one season in Amsterdam. Kicker reports that Gladbach will pay an initial €3.5m, with bonuses potentially taking the deal to €4m. Ajax paid Gladbach a base fee of €10.5m for Itakura only last summer.
Itakura made 80 competitive appearances and scored seven goals during his first three-year spell at Borussia-Park. The versatile defender established himself as a regular in central defense and also occasionally featured in defensive midfield. His single season at Ajax proved less successful. Kicker credits Itakura with 24 competitive appearances and one goal before the ****** anese international opted to return to familiar surroundings.
The timing of the transfer is hardly coincidental. Gladbach moved quickly after Nico Elvedi completed his €10m transfer to Leeds United, leaving an immediate vacancy alongside Kevin Diks in central defense.
GGFN's 2026/27 Borussia Mönchengladbach tactical preview had projected Elvedi and Diks as the first-choice pairing while noting the uncertainty surrounding the Swiss defender's future. Itakura can now step directly into the position vacated by his former defensive partner.
"We are very pleased that we have been able to sign a player who, in terms of quality and experience, corresponds exactly to the profile we were looking for following Nico Elvedi's departure," Schröder said.
#gladbach #elvedi #diks
Itakura made 80 competitive appearances and scored seven goals during his first three-year spell at Borussia-Park. The versatile defender established himself as a regular in central defense and also occasionally featured in defensive midfield. His single season at Ajax proved less successful. Kicker credits Itakura with 24 competitive appearances and one goal before the ****** anese international opted to return to familiar surroundings.
The timing of the transfer is hardly coincidental. Gladbach moved quickly after Nico Elvedi completed his €10m transfer to Leeds United, leaving an immediate vacancy alongside Kevin Diks in central defense.
GGFN's 2026/27 Borussia Mönchengladbach tactical preview had projected Elvedi and Diks as the first-choice pairing while noting the uncertainty surrounding the Swiss defender's future. Itakura can now step directly into the position vacated by his former defensive partner.
"We are very pleased that we have been able to sign a player who, in terms of quality and experience, corresponds exactly to the profile we were looking for following Nico Elvedi's departure," Schröder said.
#gladbach #elvedi #diks
2 months ago
Just a year after leaving Borussia Mönchengladbach to join Ajax for a reported €10.5 million, Ko Itakura is back at Borussia-Park.
Die Fohlen confirmed the return of the 29-year-old centre-back on a contract until 2030 on Thursday.
"We were already considering bringing Ko Itakura back to Borussia over the winter. What sounded like a bold plan at the time has since become reality," said Gladbach head of sports Rouven Schröder.
Itakura arrives as a replacement for Nico Elvedi, who recently left the club to join Leeds United.
"We are delighted to have signed a player that brings exactly the experience and quality that we were looking for following Nico Elvedi's departure. The fact that we found all that in someone who is already familiar with the club and will need hardly any time to settle in, in addition to being really keen on coming back, just rounds everything off," said Schröder.
#itakura #club
Die Fohlen confirmed the return of the 29-year-old centre-back on a contract until 2030 on Thursday.
"We were already considering bringing Ko Itakura back to Borussia over the winter. What sounded like a bold plan at the time has since become reality," said Gladbach head of sports Rouven Schröder.
Itakura arrives as a replacement for Nico Elvedi, who recently left the club to join Leeds United.
"We are delighted to have signed a player that brings exactly the experience and quality that we were looking for following Nico Elvedi's departure. The fact that we found all that in someone who is already familiar with the club and will need hardly any time to settle in, in addition to being really keen on coming back, just rounds everything off," said Schröder.
#itakura #club
2 months ago
Borussia Mönchengladbach have reached an agreement to re-sign Ko Itakura from Ajax, according to Sky Germany.
The German broadcaster reports that the two clubs have agreed on a transfer fee that could rise to €4 million including bonuses, with the deal also including a sell-on clause for the Dutch side.
A medical has reportedly been scheduled for Wednesday, with Itakura thus on the brink of returning to the club he represented between 2022 and 2025.
Ajax paid a reported €10.5 million to sign the **** an international just a year ago.
He's in line to fill the void left by Nico Elvedi, who is set to join Leeds United.
#itakura #borussia
The German broadcaster reports that the two clubs have agreed on a transfer fee that could rise to €4 million including bonuses, with the deal also including a sell-on clause for the Dutch side.
A medical has reportedly been scheduled for Wednesday, with Itakura thus on the brink of returning to the club he represented between 2022 and 2025.
Ajax paid a reported €10.5 million to sign the **** an international just a year ago.
He's in line to fill the void left by Nico Elvedi, who is set to join Leeds United.
#itakura #borussia
3 months ago
Having played out a 1-1 draw in Dallas this evening, both ***** an and Sweden have secured their passage to the Round of 32. The former side, who clinched second place in Group F, will take on Brazil while the Swedes face Morocco. Elsewhere, the Netherlands took top spot.
Both sides adopted a cautious approach to the game's opening stages, fully aware of what was at stake. Little materialized in front of goal aside from a rather tame strike from Holstein Kiel's Alex Bernhardsson and Dazien Maeda who narrowly headed past the post.
Interestingly, both nations were forced into first-half changes as Sweden's Isaac Hien limped off for Lucas Bergvall, while ***** an gave ex-Gladbach man Ko Itakura the hook for Taniguchi. Bremen loanee Suguwara and Nakamura both tested Zetterström before the break.
Japan continued where they left off before the break, keeping the pressure on their European opponents. The breakthrough on 56 minutes arrived when Frankfurt's Ritsu Dōan played a delightful one-two before threading a ball into Maeda who finished with ruthless conviction.
Despite offering little all evening, Sweden put themselves back on level terms eight minutes later. Anthony Elanga's effort from the right appear to catch Zion Suzuki out and nestle inside the left post. The ***** anese shot stopper made amends a minute later to deny Isak.
Both sides adopted a cautious approach to the game's opening stages, fully aware of what was at stake. Little materialized in front of goal aside from a rather tame strike from Holstein Kiel's Alex Bernhardsson and Dazien Maeda who narrowly headed past the post.
Interestingly, both nations were forced into first-half changes as Sweden's Isaac Hien limped off for Lucas Bergvall, while ***** an gave ex-Gladbach man Ko Itakura the hook for Taniguchi. Bremen loanee Suguwara and Nakamura both tested Zetterström before the break.
Japan continued where they left off before the break, keeping the pressure on their European opponents. The breakthrough on 56 minutes arrived when Frankfurt's Ritsu Dōan played a delightful one-two before threading a ball into Maeda who finished with ruthless conviction.
Despite offering little all evening, Sweden put themselves back on level terms eight minutes later. Anthony Elanga's effort from the right appear to catch Zion Suzuki out and nestle inside the left post. The ***** anese shot stopper made amends a minute later to deny Isak.
4 months ago
Japan and the Netherlands will kick off their World Cup campaign in Texas on Sunday night. There are seven Bundesliga-based players in Hajime Moriyasu’s squad, with FC Bayern’s Hiroki Itō, Eintracht Frankfurt's Ritsu Dōan and Mainz’s Kaishū Sano making the starting lineup.
From the starting XI of the Samurai Blue, Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt) also had previous Bundesliga experience. With Wataru Endo's international retirement and former Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Kō Itakura on the bench, Dōan will captain ***** an.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen’s Mark Flekken is the substitute goalkeeper for the Netherlands. From the eight players with previous Bundesliga experiences, Micky van de Ven (Wolfsburg), Ryan Gravenberch (FC Bayern) and Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund) are in Ronald Koeman’s XI.
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, van Hecke, van Dijk ©, van de Ven; Gravenberch, de Jong, Reijnders; Summerville, Malen, Gakpo
Japan: Suzuki; Taniguchi, Watanabe, Itō; Dōan ©, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Maeda, Kubo; Ueda
From the starting XI of the Samurai Blue, Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt) also had previous Bundesliga experience. With Wataru Endo's international retirement and former Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Kō Itakura on the bench, Dōan will captain ***** an.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen’s Mark Flekken is the substitute goalkeeper for the Netherlands. From the eight players with previous Bundesliga experiences, Micky van de Ven (Wolfsburg), Ryan Gravenberch (FC Bayern) and Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund) are in Ronald Koeman’s XI.
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, van Hecke, van Dijk ©, van de Ven; Gravenberch, de Jong, Reijnders; Summerville, Malen, Gakpo
Japan: Suzuki; Taniguchi, Watanabe, Itō; Dōan ©, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Maeda, Kubo; Ueda
