Ko Itakura was born on 27 January 1997 in Yokohama and came through the Kawasaki Frontale youth ranks. He helped Frontale win the J1 League title in 2017 — a major early-career honour — before Manchester City signed him in January 2019 for around €1.1 million.
Itakura's path through European football has been instructive. He spent time on loan at Groningen in the Netherlands (2019), Schalke 04 in Germany (2021–22, where he won the 2. Bundesliga), and then permanently moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach in summer 2022 for €5 million. Two productive Bundesliga seasons at Gladbach (20 apps in 2023–24, 31 apps with 3 goals in 2024–25) confirmed him as a senior centre-back capable of leading a Bundesliga back line.
In August 2025 Itakura made the headline move to Ajax in the Netherlands, immediately walking into UEFA Champions League group-stage football. His 2025–26 season has been outstanding: 17 Eredivisie appearances with a goal, 6 UEFA Champions League matches, and KNVB Beker games — establishing him as a starting centre-back at one of Europe's most historic clubs.
A composed, two-footed centre-back with 188cm of height, exceptional leadership qualities and the technical security to play out from defence, Itakura started Japan's group stage at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and was a starter at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He is the senior incumbent of the Japan back line heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.