Bayern Munich has officially signed Japanese defender Hiroki Ito from Stuttgart, with a contract extending until 2028.

The versatile international, who can play both as a center-back and left-back, joins Bayern after a stellar season with Stuttgart, who finished second in the Bundesliga, ahead of Bayern. According to Kicker, the deal is worth 23 million euros plus an additional 5 million in variables.

In his announcement, Ito expressed his excitement, saying, "It's a great honor to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, which also has a significant impact in Japan."

"I gave my all at VfB Stuttgart and I'm grateful to the club. Now, I look forward to the challenge in Munich and aim to help FC Bayern win many titles. It was time for a new step, and FC Bayern is the perfect club for me," he added.

Bayern's sporting director, Max Eberl, highlighted their excitement about the acquisition. "We are very happy to have signed Hiroki Ito for FC Bayern. We want hungry players who bring new energy, and Hiroki has everything we are looking for."

"He is a player who embraces challenges, overcomes them, and continually makes his way. At 25, he already has a lot of experience and can handle pressure, whether it's a promotion battle or the chance to play in the Champions League. He will be an immediate asset for us," Eberl stated.

Christoph Freund, Bayern's sporting director, praised Ito's consistency at Stuttgart, which caught the attention of top international clubs. "Hiroki is the epitome of reliability at VfB Stuttgart. He has consistently performed at the highest level."

"Hiroki is tall, aggressive, has a great left foot, excellent passing, and is versatile in defense, able to play both on the left and in the center. He came to Germany as a young player, has developed tremendously, and we believe he has even more potential," Freund concluded.