Junya Ito was born on 9 March 1993 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa. He took an unconventional path to professional football, attending Kanagawa University before signing with Ventforet Kofu in 2015 — a relatively late start that would not slow him down. After a season there he moved to Kashiwa Reysol, where he developed into one of the most direct, pace-driven wingers in the J1 League.
In January 2019 Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk signed Ito on loan, with a permanent move that summer. He was an immediate hit, helping Genk to the Belgian Pro League title in 2018–19 and earning a reputation as one of the league's most fearsome counter-attacking weapons. In summer 2022 he made the step up to France's Ligue 1 with Stade de Reims for a fee of around €10 million. Three seasons in Reims confirmed his level — consistent double-figure goal-and-assist contributions — before he returned to Genk in August 2025 in a transfer reunion.
His 2025–26 season at Genk has been productive on both fronts: 24 Pro League appearances with 4 goals and 4 assists, plus a goal in the UEFA Europa League. A right-footed right-winger built around acceleration, end-product and tactical discipline, Ito is one of the most reliable European-based attackers Japan has at its disposal.
He made his Japan debut in 2017 and was a starter at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Japan reached the round of 16. He scored six goals in 14 matches across the AFC qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, and remains a key figure in the squad heading into the 2026 World Cup.