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It was preserved as a record on October 26; the timeline below shows how it unfolded, with sources. Get the briefing to follow the top situations still developing: three emails a week, sourced and in order.

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2 clusters · 4 sources · 26 days · First seen · Last updated

Japanese footballers in German Bundesliga

Overview

Japanese footballers in the Bundesliga are experiencing varying levels of playing time and transfer speculation.

In late August, Bayern Munich defender Hiroki Ito was linked with a potential move to Ajax Amsterdam as his representatives reportedly proposed the player to the Dutch club. This interest followed Ito’s struggle to secure a regular starting position at Bayern Munich after joining from VfB Stuttgart in 2024.

By late September, reports indicated that Ito remained a candidate for sale during the January transfer window. Despite having a contract through 2028, Ito had seen minimal action, appearing in only one match for approximately 10 minutes. It was suggested that Bayern Munich might seek to sell him to fund the acquisition of Benfica defender Tomas Araujo.

As of late September 2026, Hiroki Ito continues to face a difficult period at Bayern Munich. Due to persistent injury issues and low playing time, where he is currently regarded as a “third or fourth choice” in his positions, reports suggest the club may still consider selling him in January to fund the acquisition of new talent.

Entities

Bayern Munich · Hiroki Ito · Ritsu Doan · Ryotaro Ito · FC Bayern Munich

Timeline

  1. [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Japanese footballers face transfer and tactical shifts in Europe

    Japanese players in Europe face major shifts: Ryotaro Ito nears a move to Real Valladolid, Hiroki Ito faces a potential January exit from Bayern Munich, and Ritsu Doan faces tactical changes at Frankfurt.

  2. [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Hiroki Ito linked with potential move from Bayern Munich to Ajax

    Bayern Munich defender Hiroki Ito is reportedly being proposed to Ajax Amsterdam by his representatives as he seeks more playing time before the transfer deadline.

Sources

japan.football-tribe.com · qoly.jp · sakanowa.jp · soccerdigestweb.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history