Ryotaro Ito was born on 6 February 1998 in Osaka, Japan, and rose through Urawa Red Diamonds' youth ranks. After loan spells at Oita Trinita and Mito Hollyhock, and time at Albirex Niigata where he won the J2 League in 2022 (17 J1 apps with 7 goals in 2023 from his half-season after promotion), he moved to Belgium with Sint-Truiden in June 2023.
His Sint-Truiden career has been transformative. Across three full Belgian Pro League seasons he has put up extraordinary numbers: 33 league matches with 2 goals and 3 assists in 2023–24, 33 matches with 2 goals and 3 assists plus 17 cup matches with 7 goals and 4 assists in 2024–25, and an outstanding 2025–26 season with 33 Pro League matches, 10 goals and 5 assists.
A 174cm two-footed attacking midfielder with elite close control, vision and the ability to play between the lines, Ito has been a Japan A-team caller since 2024 and continues to feature in friendlies. His goal-scoring output as a creative midfielder has made him one of the most productive Japanese players in Belgium and a strong candidate for the wider 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.