Their 2026 World Cup
Two matches and an assist against Tunisia, with the highest rating in the Japanese back line.
Match by match
K. Itakura played 2 matches for Japan, starting every one.
| Round | Match | His game |
|---|---|---|
| Group F | vs Tunisia 4-0 | Started, played the full match · 1 assist |
| Group F | vs Sweden 1-1 | Started, off on 39′ |
Who he is
- Born
- 27 January 1997 · aged 29 at the World Cup
- Birthplace
- Yokohama
- Club
- Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Height
- 1.86 m
Data: Wikidata (CC0).
Biography
Ko Itakura (板倉 滉, Itakura Kō; born 27 January 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach and captains the Japan national team. Known for his ball-playing ability, versatility, and defensive anticipation, Itakura began his career in the J1 League with Kawasaki Frontale before moving to Europe in 2019. After successful loan spells at Groningen and Schalke 04, he joined Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2022 and established himself in the Bundesliga with the club. In 2025, he became the first Japanese player in history to sign for Ajax, and returned to Mönchengladbach a year later.
Early career Born in Yokohama, Itakura joined the youth academy of Kawasaki Frontale in 2006 at the primary school level. He progressed through the youth ranks, eventually making his senior debut on 6 August 2016 in a J1 League match against Ventforet Kofu, replacing Yu Kobayashi. He was part of the squad that won the club's first-ever J1 League title in 2017, although his playing time was limited.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) · opening summary of the article.
Tournament data from API-Football. See more rankings on the World Cup data hub.
Photo: Mtjonenfa · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)